A man accused of beating his 12-year-old stepson with a tree limb told the court that he did it because the boy stoned his goats and tore down their pen.

Charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and child abuse is Carlton Hasse. He is accused of using a stick to beat the child, causing wounds and swellings all over his body.

Hasse pleaded guilty to the charge but told the court that the boy climbed on the fence surrounding the pen, damaging it in the process. He said the boy also stoned his goats.

He also told the court that he had told the boy repeatedly not to trouble his goats. He said the boy's mother had told him not to be too rough on the child, so he merely spoke to him about it. He claimed, however, that the boy cursed him and used expletives.

The child, however, told the court that he was merely trying to pick mangoes. He said he did not attack the goats and did not use expletives.

The investigating officer told the court that Hasse had been in trouble before for a similar matter. Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey told Hasse, " You are a cruel person and you must change your ways."

Hasse was remanded until May 22, when he will be sentenced.