Parents who abuse their own children should be given leniency if they also care for the child, the Sentencing Council has said.

Judges should consider not sending parents to prison if they are the "sole or primary carer" for their children because of the impact this could have on the victim, new guidelines say.

"Careful consideration should be given to the effect that a custodial sentence could have on the family life of the victim and whether this is proportionate to the seriousness of the offence.

"This may be of particular relevance in lower culpability cases or where the offender has otherwise been a loving and capable parent/carer," the document, published on Thursday, suggests.

Barristers representing abusers in court can already suggest to judges that they show leniency for an offender with dependent children, but this is the first time guidelines have set out exactly how this element should affect sentencing.

The guideline, due to come into force in January, covers cruelty to a child, causing or allowing a child to die or suffer serious physical harm, and failing to protect a girl from the risk of female genital mutilation, for which a starting point of five years in prison is suggested for the most serious offences. It does not cover sexual abuse.