Doctors found that a seven-month-old baby girl had been so badly treated she had several broken bones and 38 obvious bruises and scars, Worcester Crown Court has heard.

The little girl had bite marks on her body and there was evidence that she had been burned with a lighted cigarette, said Glyn Samuel, prosecuting.

Parents Aaron and Natalie Davies, of Brickbarns Farm, Hanley Road, Malvern Wells, pleaded guilty to cruelty to a child under the age of 16.

Aaron Davies, 25, also admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm causing fractures to the skull, leg and ribs. He was jailed for four years for these offences.

In a separate incident, he admitted stealing saucepans from the Somerfield in Malvern, common assault on the manager and resisting arrest. He was jailed for a further three and a half months.

His wife Natalie, 19, now living in a hostel in Redditch, was given a three-year community rehabilitation order. She pleaded guilty to the cruelty charge on the basis she had neglected to obtain medical treatment.

Health workers became concerned about the baby because she did not appear to be gaining weight. Appointments for injections were missed and the couple's GP became concerned when he noticed bruising.

The couple claimed the baby bruised easily but when the child was taken to hospital, further injuries were discovered. These were non-accidental and consistent with serious child abuse.

Davies admitted he might have accidentally sat on the baby. On other occasions, he had squeezed the child and dropped her into a chair in temper. He had also picked her up by an arm and a leg.

Natalie Davies said she had heard the baby screaming with her husband in another room. They had missed doctor's appointments because they didn't want people to think they had been harming the child.

Michael Aspinall, for Aaron Davies, said it was a "shambolic" household. Davies was under stress because he was taking a college course to learn to read and write.

"He was tired and unable to cope and coupled with the lack of parenting skills, it was a recipe for disaster," said Mr Aspinall.

Peter Arnold, for Natalie Davies, said she was an inadequate who was now receiving help at a hostel. The baby had been fostered and she was able to see it on a regulated basis.

Judge David McEvoy said there was evidence the child had been roughly handled. He accepted Natalie Davies was in fear of her husband. He disqualified both parents from working with children until further notice.