A law student caught repeatedly slapping a baby "beetroot red" on a video monitor told a court he would "never intentionally hurt" the child.
Ryan MacIver, 26, lashed out at the eight-month-old boy at his flat in Glasgow's Oatlands on 13 February, 2022.
The Strathclyde University attendee was snared after failing to return calls to a concerned woman who had been caring for the boy.
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The 24-year-old accessed a video baby monitor app which was focused on MacIver's bed. She clocked MacIver slapping the crying baby who was in his arms twice.
The trainee pharmacy dispenser told a court that the baby was later found to be red and bruised.
MacIver - a first offender - was convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court of assaulting the baby to his injury.
The court heard that MacIver - an assistant manager in a bookmakers - picked up the boy in the afternoon and took him to his home.
MacIver later reported back to the woman that the boy ate his dinner but he "could not get him down". The woman believed there was "nothing to worry about" as the boy was teething or might have been hungry.
She said that MacIver went silent and did not respond to her five phone calls.
She told the court: "Something inside told me something wasn't right. I chanced my luck and looked at the camera."
The witness explained that the camera was installed in MacIver's master bedroom as she was anxious about the boy.
The woman said she opened up the camera's phone app to see MacIver sitting on the edge of his bed. She added: "He had the baby on his left arm...he was screaming.
"I thought he was acting up and Ryan was trying to calm him down. It was 20 seconds later that he slapped him on the face."
The witness stated that the strike was to the boy's left cheek.
She said: "At first I didn't really believe what I was seeing - I had headphones on - not only did I see it I heard it. He did it again and I went through to my mum and she looked at the camera and saw what happened - she saw the last five to 10 seconds."
The pair raced in their pyjamas to MacIver's property which was minutes away. The woman confronted a surprised MacIver who told her that "only pinched his cheek."
The witness said: "The baby was still in his arms and his face was beetroot red. I have never seen the baby like that at all - he looked like he had been crying for a long period of time."
The woman added that the boy also had a "bulging" blue bruise on his head. She stated that she took the boy away from MacIver who told her: "I know people."
The woman reported the matter to her "trusted" GP and the police two days later.
MacIver in his evidence told the court that he was studying the diploma in professional legal practice. He stated that he would "never intentionally hurt" the baby.
Prosecutor Derek Buchanan asked him: "I take it you have thought what a conviction for this offence would have in respect of you becoming a lawyer?"
MacIver replied: "Yes, to an extent, but I'm aware the law society could be understanding."
Mr Buchanan: "It might scupper your chances of becoming a lawyer?"
MacIver: "That's not true."
Sheriff Kevin McCarron told MacIver when convicting him: "The Crown witnesses were consistent with the evidence they gave. They were cross examined and their position remained the same...they were compelling and persuasive.
"I listened to your evidence carefully and it doesn't cause me to have any doubt.
"Your explanation doesn't convince me anything other than the Crown witnesses are telling the truth and I find you guilty."
MacIver showed no reaction when convicted but later put his hands on his face.
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month and MacIver was bailed meantime.
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