Dad jailed: Richard Root, of Wisconsin, was handed a seven-year probationary sentence, including six months in jail, for beating his infant daughter and breaking her bones

A 21-year-old Wisconsin man has been sentenced to six months in prison after being convicted pf beating his infant daughter, breaking 20 of her bones and causing a brain hemorrhage.

Richard Root, of Oshkosh, in August pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of neglecting a child. He was initially arrested on a more serious count of child abuse - recklessly causing great harm.

The married father-of-two was arrested in March after police said he shook his infant daughter and knelt on her legs while changing her diaper.

The baby was rushed to Aurora Medical Center, where doctors found that she had nine broken ribs, a broken arm and a broken leg, injuries to her face and multiple brain bleeds, according to the station WFMY.

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Root has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of neglecting a child. Pictured: Root's family, including his wife seen pregnant with their second child (foreground left), are attending

Root and his newlywed wife's daughter (pictured left) suffered nine broken ribs, a broken arm and a broken leg, injuries to her face and multiple brain bleeds

She was later airlifted to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she was treated and eventually released to a family member, reported Oshkosh Northwestern.

Last week, Root appeared in Winnebago County Court and was handed a seven-year probationary sentence, including six months in prison.

Circuit Judge Thomas Gritton also barred Root from using alcohol or drugs, and ordered him to keep a job or attend school full time, and to undergo counselling.

The station NBC26 reported that the sentence also comes with a no-contact order for his daughter and a second child, a boy, that he and his newlywed wife have only recently welcomed.

Root (pictured in court, left) claimed he 'snapped' due to a lack of sleep and stress

Root's wife of less than two years, pictured here with a baby bump during her second pregnancy, has not been charged with any crime

When questioned by police, Root reportedly confessed that he 'snapped' due to stress and a lack of sleep.

A criminal complaint stated that the 21-year-old dad demonstrated on a doll how he grabbed his baby around the chest and shook her while asking why she was crying.

The infant's mother was at work at the time of the attack on March 10. She has not been charged with a crime.

According to the wife's Facebook page, the couple got married in February 2016.