A Texas man rang the police to tell them he had carved a pentagram into his six-year-old son's back because it was "a holy day".

Richland Hills police said Brent Troy Bartel faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and has been jailed in lieu of a \$500,000 (£309,400) bond.

In the 911 call released by police, Bartel calmly provides the dispatcher with his home address before telling her: "I shed some innocent blood."

When asked why he did it, Bartel replies: "Because it's a holy day."

The incident took place on December 12, 2012 - or 12/12/12 - considered an auspicious date in many communities around the world.

Officers in the Fort Worth suburb said they arrived at the home and found that most of the child's back was covered with a large pentagram.

Richland Hills police also recovered a box cutter they believe was used to cut the boy.

Sergeant Nathan Stringer told Sky News the boy's mother also called 911 from a neighbour's house after she discovered her husband carving the pagan symbol on her child's back.

Bartel made his 911 call at about the same time his wife called, Sgt Stringer added.

Police said there was no indication that Bartel was intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics when they arrived at the scene.

Sgt Stringer described the young boy, who police found shivering from the cold in nothing but his pyjama trousers, as a "trooper".

He was taken to Cooks Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.

The wounds on his back were not very deep, but he will most likely be physically scarred forever, Sgt Stringer said.