A Norwich man who sexually assaulted a 23-month-old boy he was babysitting because he wanted to “see how it would feel” will be sentenced in January to 10 years in prison, 10 years of strict probation and registration as a sexual offender.

Brian Clark, 22, whose last known address was 91 S. Second Ave., pleaded guilty this morning in New London Superior Court to risk of injury to a minor. He has been held in lieu of $250,000 bond since he was arrested in July 2011. Prosecutor Theresa Anne Ferryman and attorney Peter E. Scillieri worked out a plea agreement in which Clark will be sentenced Jan. 31 to 20 years in prison, suspended after 10 years served and 10 years probation.

According to prosecutor Ferryman, officials at The William W. Backus Hospital notified police that the toddler appeared to have been sexually assaulted. The child’s mother said Clark, who regularly babysat her two children, had told her the boy was injured when he was playing with a battery-operated ATV. The mother said the child was in notable pain and had what appeared to be blood in his diaper.

Police interviewed Clark, who eventually confessed, according to court documents. He said he knew it was wrong but did not think he would be caught. He said it was the first time he had touched anyone inappropriately.

The victim’s family members were not in the courtroom to hear Clark plead guilty, but will be interviewed about the impact of the crime during a presentencing investigation by the Department of Adult Probation. A woman who came in support of Clark left the courtroom in tears after he was led back to the courthouse lockup.