A MAN who punched and threatened his 12-year-old son at a holiday camp has been jailed.

The father, of Wrexham, admitted five charges of child cruelty and was jailed for 40 weeks.

The attack took place during a family holiday at the Pontins holiday camp at Prestatyn.

Andrew McInnes, prosecuting at Mold Crown Court, said a canteen supervisor at Pontins saw the family enter the restaurant at about 2pm on July 12 and noticed the father, aged 39, was loud and aggressive.

He shouted and swore at the boy on a number of occasions before grabbing his arm and dragging him towards the food aisle.

The following morning a restaurant assistant again saw him being angry and aggressive in the restaurant and the boy was put in a headlock and punched twice to the head.

Later, another member of staff saw him shouting abuse including “I’ll knife you” at the boy.

She saw him wrap his left arm around the child’s neck and pull his head back to such an extent that he nearly lifted him off his feet.

Mr McInnes said she saw the defendant punch him with his right fist on the head four or five times with force.

Despite the abuse, the little boy did not make a sound, despite being punched, elbowed and shouted at.

Later the same day he subjected the boy to similar treatment in the canteen when he violently pulled him by the arm and punched him on his arm. Again there was no reaction from the boy.

Two days later he was abusive and aggressive to his son and was seen to take hold of his chin and cheeks and squeeze them.

That day the manager approached the defendant and spoke to him while he was sitting alone at a table.

However, after the manager left, the man was overheard to say to his son: “If he asks you (about the incidents), you say nothing.”

Police were alerted because of staff concerns and when he was arrested told officers: “All I’ve done is told him to quieten down.”

Matthew Curtis, defending, said his client was man of previous good character who deserved credit for admitting the charges, which had avoided his son having to give evidence, had learning difficulties and was vulnerable.

The man cannot be named to avoid identifying the victim, who was made the subject of an order under The Children and Young Persons’ Act.