A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for repeatedly maiming his infant daughter in a case the judge compared to torture.

Gregory Vincent MacIsaac, of Brookfield, was sentenced Thursday in provincial court for abusing his newborn, who suffered 40 fractures all over her tiny body.

"To suggest a description of torture would not be inappropriate," said Judge John MacDougall.

An RCMP investigation started March 3 with a call from staff at the Truro hospital, where the seven-week-old girl was admitted with multiple injuries.

MacIsaac was initially charged with aggravated assault, but pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of assault causing bodily harm.

The Crown had asked for a sentence of five years.

"Certainly [the two years] is not out of line. I just felt that in this case a strong, strong message needed to be sent," said prosecutor Allison Brown.

The court heard MacIsaac hurt his newborn over seven weeks. He twisted her legs, lifted her by one arm and pressed his fingers into her chest and back.

MacIsaac told police he was jealous of the baby and secretly hurt her in order to get more attention from his girlfriend.

Defence lawyer Al Begin said his client knows right from wrong but has an intellectual handicap and functions at the level of an eight-year-old.

"This is a person who failed Grade 1," Begin told reporters, "the same type of person who took a BB gun out hunting big game thinking he was hunting for real.

"It tells you his ability."

MacIsaac was living with his girlfriend and parents in Brookfield when the abuse took place. Police say they've found no evidence that anyone else in the house knew what was going on.

The baby and her older sister are now in foster care.

Begin said the issue of who is qualified to look after them is an ongoing case in family court.

"Can the children go back to the mother, can they go to the parents, do they have to go to other extended family?" said Begin.

The little victim, now 10 months old, is recovering well. She did not have any brain damage and her prognosis is hopeful.