A MAN was carrying his five-month-old baby boy in his arm when he slipped and fell on seeing a cat jumping out from nowhere, a magistrate's court heard on Friday.

A shocked Muhammad Ali Abdullah, who was afraid of cats, slipped, resulting in the baby's head knocking against a wooden furniture in the room. He then fell onto the bed with infant.

Afraid of being scolded, he did not tell anyone.

It happened when he was visiting his girlfriend in Tampines on May 23 last year.

The baby, who was born out of wedlock, refused to drink milk the following day.

The 21-year-old mother took him to a clinic nearby.

The baby was referred to KK Women's and Children's Hospital and warded.

A CT scan showed a fracture on the right side of his head with swelling in the brain.

On Friday, the 22-year-old cargo handler was given the maximum fine of $1,000 after he admitted to causing grievous hurt to the baby and keeping mum about it, causing him to suffer serious injuries.

He could have been jailed for up to two years for the life-endangering negligent act.