Man jailed for forcing toddler to eat faeces

Johannesburg - The Western Cape High Court has sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for assaulting a 2-year-old boy and forcing him to eat his own faeces, provincial police said on Tuesday.

Bennet Hakkies, 28, was sentenced by the court on Monday after being found guilty of attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, said police spokesperson Bernadine Steyn.

On 15 May 2014, the man assaulted his girlfriend's son with his fists and feet, before burning his feet with boiling water.

Hakkies also took a cement brick and put it on the victim's chest and forced the boy to eat his own faeces.

The Beaufort West family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit arrested him on 17 May.