British dad spared jail after causing death of two-year-old son who fell from Cyprus hotel window

A British father has been spared jail after causing the death of his two-year-old son who fell out of a hotel window in Cyprus.

Joshua Foster, 37, was fined £2,500 during his sentencing at Paphos District Court today.

The father originally faced charges of causing death by a reckless act after his son fell 10 metres from the fourth floor of the King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas on July 12.

The toddler was declared dead on arrival at Paphos General Hospital shortly after the incident.

The Essex father pleaded guilty to causing death by a rash, reckless or dangerous act at the Cyprus court.

Ahead of sentencing, the court had heard Foster believed the window was closed when he placed the youngster on the windowsill so that he could have a better view of the waterpark.

Along with his in-laws, he, his wife and two other children arrived in Cyprus that morning before spending time in the pool.

They then returned to their hotel rooms to get ready for dinner.

The father's lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou told the court the man had been enjoying "a pleasant, joyous moment of their life while on vacation".

At that moment, Foster placed his two-year-old on the windowsill, unaware the window had been left open before the "inconceivable" took place.

Mr Alexandrou said the moment will "haunt him for the rest of his life".