A TEENAGE mother with learning difficulties who broke her seven-week-old baby's arm needed help rather than punishment, an Old Bailey judge said on Monday.

The court heard the girl battered the seven-week-old baby, now living with grandparents in Watford, and then told her partner lies about how he suffered the injuries.

The judge, Mr Recorder Christopher Moss, QC, remanded the woman, now 18, on bail for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

The girl's partner was cleared of cruelty to a child after the crown withdrew its case against him.

Prosecutor Ann Evans told the court in the brief hearing: 'The Crown accept that this defendant gave a false story not only to the doctors involved when her son was taken to hospital but also to her partner.'

The child may also have had a fractured skull, Miss Evans said. But, as the evidence of this was not conclusive, the case proceeded on the basis that only the arm was broken.

The girl admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on the basis that the injury was caused by her recklessness between March 8 and March 10 last year.

No evidence was offered against her in respect of a charge of child cruelty.

The child is now living with her partners' parents in Watford.

The judge said: 'This is on the face of it a very serious matter as a very young baby has been injured.

'I want to know more about you before I decide what sentence to pass for the offence.

'You pleaded guilty to a serious offence, breaking the arm of a young baby.'

But the judge said after the report is prepared the young mother may 'get help rather than punishment'.

She will be sentenced on September 8.