A Canberra Magistrate has described the actions of a man who tied up his five-year-old stepson with sticky tape as bizarre.

The 41-year-old man has been charged with neglecting a child.

A statement of facts tendered to the court says he picked his stepson up from school in March because he had been naughty in class.

It is alleged that when they got home, the man hit his stepson on the face with a stick, then put sticky tape around his legs, arms, eyes and mouth, and left the house.

His mother arrived home to find her son bound and on the floor.

It is alleged he had been left alone for more than four hours.

When she confronted her partner, he allegedly told her that he had had important things to do.

The matter was adjourned until tomorrow.