AN Adelaide father has hit out at his former partner, who walked away from a jail term despite pleading guilty to bashing their eight-month-old daughter, Evie, with a spoon.

Lorien Norman, 26, faced a maximum sentence of 13 years behind bars for the aggravated assault — but is a free woman because the judge said the baby’s injuries were “likely to resolve”.

“I’m disgusted by the outcome,” Shane McMahon told news.com.au.

“I’m not being sexist, but if it was me I would be in jail. If I did this under the circumstances, I would still be incarcerated.

“I wouldn’t have a legal leg to stand on, and I wouldn’t expect it either.”

Last October, Miss Norman called police at 4am, threatening to throw Evie over the balcony of her unit.

When police arrived, they noticed significant bruising to Evie’s face and body. Both Miss Norman and her daughter were taken to hospital.

Court documents revealed Miss Norman initially “lied” to police, claiming Evie had taken a fall while at a play gym the day before.

But a paediatrician examination concluded that Evie had actually sustained “at least eight separate blows to her face and body” as a result of physical assault.

It is understood the judge, Jack Costello, didn’t consider Norman’s offence serious enough for a jail term.

“Whilst any assault of a child, particularly one of such a tender age and vulnerability, by a parent stands as a gross breach of trust, your offending is nevertheless far from the most serious of offending of this type in terms of the degree of force involved and the duration of the offending,” said Judge Costello told the court.

Miss Norman was instead given a good behaviour bond by the court and ordered to pay $500. The 26-year-old will be under the supervision of a community corrections officer, and complete any counselling, assessment or therapy programs deemed appropriate by the officer.

“This is a game to her,” Mr McMahon said, speaking of text messages he received in the days following Miss Norman’s sentence.

“I’m not in jail,” the text message from Miss Norman to Mr McMahon read. “What’s your next move?”

Before responding, Miss Norman sent another message saying she’d “made it” and would have “part custody within a year”, despite having everyone on social media against her.

Judge Costello said Ms Norman had a “troubled adolescence” with a history of self-mutilating behaviour. He said she’d also been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, and had been admitted to the Adelaide clinic on two occasions.

“You have also had a significant history of drug (particularly cannabis) and alcohol abuse,” he said.

“Despite your troubled and somewhat dissolute past life there is guarded cause for optimism in that you have taken steps to turn your life around.

“You are clearly remorseful for your actions.”

Mr McMahon, whose photos of Evie’s injuries have gone viral, said his daughter is still suffering mentally from the ordeal.

“Physically she’s OK ... but mentally it’s too early to tell,” she said.

“But she’s well aware of what happened. She doesn’t like things near her face and will put her arms up. How will I have a hair dresser go near her face one day?”