A babysitter who left a one-year-old boy with hand-shaped bruises on his face has been jailed for just three months for assaulting the child.

Markell Hilaire, 27, was left to look after Jacob Marbury for two hours in March while the baby's parents, Joshua Marbury and Alicia Quinney, went on a date.

When they returned to their home in Sherwood, Oregon, they found their son screaming and Hilaire - a family friend - fast asleep.

The next morning they noticed that Jacob was covered in bruises and reported what had happened to the police.

But it took three months for any charges to be brought against Hilaire, possibly because of a state law which makes it difficult to prosecute violent offenders unless the victim can speak for themselves.

One-year-old Jacob Marbury was left with horrific bruises on his face after he was assaulted by babysitter Markell Hilaire

Family friend Hilaire, 27, was left to look after Jacob Marbury for two hours in March while the baby's parents, Joshua Marbury and Alicia Quinney, went on a date

Jacob's parents posted pictures of his bruised face on social media and after three months of campaigning, Hilaire was charged.

The parents believe the delay in prosecuting the babysitter was linked to a ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals which makes it harder to file abuse charges if the victim cannot speak.

Prosecutors have to prove the victim suffered a 'physical injury' and suffered 'substantial pain', which is not easy when the victim cannot describe what pain they were in.

A Facebook post written by Mr Maybury was shared 150,000 times as he appealed for the authorities to take action.

Ms Quinney said when she returned from the date and saw Jacob's black eye, she assumed he had drawn on his face - but quickly realized something far more sinister had happened.

Hilaire, who initially pleaded not guilty, admitted third-degree assault today and was sentenced to three months in prison followed by three years of probation, Fox 12 reported.

Jacob's mother Alice Quinney (pictured together above) says that she noticed Jacob's black eye immediately but thought he had somehow got marker on his face

Hilaire (above in court earlier this year) admitted assault today - more than four months after the incident

Jacob's babysitter was jailed for three months and he has now recovered physically from the incident in March

He said sorry in court today after changing his plea.

'First of all, I want to apologize for what I did,' he said.

'It does not define what I am and I was not in the right state of mind when I did what I did and I hope that Jacob is OK and he grows.'

Ms Quinney said her three-year-old daughter - who was also being looked after by Hilaire when he attacked Jacob - 'still talks about the stuff that happened last night'.

Dionee Hilaire, the babysitter's aunt, said she thought the sentence was harsh as she claimed the parents knew her nephew was drunk when they left him to care for their children.