A MAN was given the maximum fine of $1,000 on Friday for causing grevious hurt to his five-month old son by negligently knocking his head against a piece of furniture.

The 22-year-old man was carrying the baby when a cat jumped out from nowhere, causing to slip and fall.

As he fell, the baby's head hit a piece of furniture. The man did not tell anyone about the accident. The baby boy suffered a skull fracture and swelling in his brain.

It was only the next day that the victim's mother felt something was amiss when the infant refused to drink his milk. The Straits Times understands the baby has since recovered.

On Friday, a magistrate's court judge handed the man the maximum penalty - a $1,000 fine. As he was unable to pay the fine, he will serve a week in jail.

The cargo-handler, who cannot be named, had pleaded guilty to a charge of negligently causing grievous hurt when he visited the baby's mother, his 21-year-old girlfriend's flat in Tampines on May 23 last year.

Pleading for leniency, the man told District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan it was an accident.

He said he did not tell anyone about the mishap because he feared being scolded. He also said he was making plans to marry the child's mother.

He could have been jailed for up to two years or fined, or both.