The mother of a woman accused of cruelty saw bruises on a four-year-old boy almost every time she visited, a court heard.

Joan Wilson said she never witnessed John Smith self-harming but the boy was almost proud to announce that he had caused the injuries himself.

Her daughter, Michelle McWilliam, who was adopting John, called her a number of times for advice about what to do. "Michelle was upset and had great concern no one was giving her any help."

Mrs Wilson told Lewes Crown Court yesterday there were no problems with John when he first moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Simon McWilliam, in Gardner Road, Fishersgate, Southwick.

They bought John a sandpit and her husband, Ron, formed a special relationship with the boy as they played together.

Later, she saw bruises on John and was told he was throwing himself down stairs and falling off chairs.

Mrs Wilson said she visited a few days before John died and discovered he had been sick. Michelle McWilliam had taken his clothes off to clean him and Mrs Wilson had seen bruises on John's forehead and left hip.

"He was very quiet. I asked Michelle if she had spoken to social services. She said they told her John's behaviour was not unusual."

Another visitor to the McWilliam house, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she too saw bruises. She said he told her: "I did it. I hurt myself."

She described Michelle McWilliam as a natural mother who coped with children "brilliantly".

Foster carer Suzie Pickett said Michelle McWilliam telephoned her twice for advice on John's self-harming. "Michelle was very sincere and needed reassurance she was doing the right thing."

John died from a brain haemorrhage on Christmas Eve 1999. He had 54 bruises and three adult bite marks on his body.

Earlier, the court heard from odonotologist Dr Gordon Copley that bite marks on John were more likely to have come from Simon McWilliam but there was nothing conclusive to be derived from the injuries.

The McWilliams deny cruelty. The defence closed yesterday and Camden Pratt, prosecuting, is scheduled to make his final speech on Monday.