A 47-YEAR-OLD man who carved the letter 'W' into his son's head has been jailed for four years.

Osita Michael Onwugbufor, of Church Manorway, Abbeywood, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on March 16, after being found guilty of the various charges in January.

Unemployed Onwugbufor received three years imprisonment for one count of child neglect and cruelty towards his son.

He also received six months imprisonment for common assault against his son, to run consecutively.

He was sentenced to a further six months for common assault on a second child, also to run consecutively.

The case follows an investigation by the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command, based at Sidcup.

The court heard that whilst in his care, Onwugbufor had neglected and assaulted his son on more than one occasion.

The jury was shown a picture of the child's head with the letter 'W' etched into it.

Following a police investigation, Onwugbufor was charged in July 2005.

During expert witness evidence at the trial, it was said the marking had been made to ward off evil spirits.

Detective Constable Mark Gay, who led the investigation, said: "This is a very sad case of a vulnerable young boy who would appear to have been branded by a misguided father.

"It is possible that many people might not see this as a case of cruelty.

"But to mark and scar a child for life is an offence and we will investigate all allegations of cruelty against children."