A self-confessed “dirty rat” abused an Angus child protection worker after she legitimately revealed his sex offender status during a meeting, a court has been told.
Adam Horace Huntsman-Smith was furious his registration emerged during a visit by the social worker to discuss an impending birth involving a family member and faced up to her to make his unhappiness known.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, 30-year-old Huntsman-Smith, of Montrose, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on March 28, and shouting and swearing at a woman.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said the victim of the accused’s anger was a child protection social worker who on the day of the offence had attended an appointment at an address in Brechin.
The accused arrived at the house to ask one of the witnesses if they would help him change a lightbulb, and the social worker then raised with the other parties whether Huntsman-Smith, as a registered sex offender, should have access to the child.
“The accused left his home in a fit of anger, went direct to the social worker and, while standing no more than 30 centimetres from her, said: ‘How dare you tell people I’m a dirty rat, and don’t you tell people what to do with my family’.”
The depute fiscal said the victim was “scared” by the accused’s behaviour.
Huntsman-Smith was subsequently cautioned and charged, and told police: “I don’t see how anyone should come and talk about me without me being there.”
Defence solicitor Brian Bell told the court the social worker was carrying out a pre-birth risk assessment and the accused’s name had come up as part of the discussion, Huntsman-Smith having moved to Angus to be with his family.
Mr Bell added: “He accepts that his behaviour was wholly inappropriate. If he is subject to registration which he is that involves certain requirements, and clearly the social worker was performing her duties as she should.”
He said the accused was currently subject to a one-year community payback order (CPO) including supervision.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio deferred sentence on Huntsman-Smith until the next CPO review date on February 5.
The sheriff told the accused: “It is an offence of considerable seriousness to behave in this fashion towards someone carrying out their duties.”