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A man who burnt his 5-year-old son's face with a fan heater because the youngster accidentally scorched the carpet has been jailed for almost seven years.
Before the 46-year-old was taken into custody to begin his lengthy stint behind bars, he made an emotional plea to family members in Christchurch District Court.
"I'm very sorry for what I've done to my son," he said.
"One day I hope to stand in front of you and apologise properly."
He told another one of his children present in court to "stay away from the gang. Don't do the gang thing."
The man cannot be named after a judge granted final name suppression after a request from the youngster's family who want his identity protected.
The unemployed man earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to disfigure the boy during the attack on July 20 this year.
It happened at the family home in the Shirley area of Christchurch when police say the boy accidentally knocked over a fan heater, which made a burn mark on the carpet.
The man then lost his temper and "took hold of the heater and forcibly pushed the hot metal protective grill at the front of the heater on to the boy's face, causing deep burns to his facial skin," according to the police summary of facts.