A former Dundee police officer who destroyed his career by punching a child with autism has admitted a second football-related assault.
Darren Moore had to leave his job with Police Scotland after being found guilty, in December, of attacking and injuring a 13-year-old boy after a children’s football game.
The 42-year-old has now pled guilty to a second assault – this time on an adult – at the same location.
He admitted assaulting Derek Wemyss by punching him on the head and body and trying to bite him on September 18, 2021.
The court heard Mr Wemyss had approached Moore in Donald’s Lane, Dundee after the complainer had intervened in an incident at a football pitch involving two boys.
The court was told a struggle started between the two and Mr Wemyss pinned Moore to the ground to prevent further assault.
Moore tried to bite Mr Wemyss, before punching him on the head and body, leaving him bruised.
Mr Wemyss was left with scrapes and bump on his head.
Moore was still a police officer at the time.
Left police force
Defence solicitor Ross Donnelly, mitigating for Moore, told the court his client had suffered from poor mental health recently.
“Mr Moore, at the time of this incident, was a serving police officer but he has now left that employment.
“He has subsequently been convicted of another offence and fined £700.
“That offence predates this matter.
“It also involved (an incident) at a football match.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence on Moore, of Liff, for criminal and social work reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment until February 28.
Moore was instructed to attend court for sentencing.
Assaulted 13-year-old
At his recent trial, the court heard Moore had messaged a superior officer concerned about how striking a child could impact his career.
He sent a Facebook private message to Sergeant Rory Duncan, which read: “Looking for advice.
“The lad put his head on my nose and pushed forward and my reaction was to push/ slap him on the face to get away.
“Feel s**t mate. Could my job be at risk? I have to think about that.”
A sheriff rejected this defence and found him guilty of the March 2019 assault.
He was convicted of assaulting the youngster by “forcefully pressing his hand against his head, pushing him on the body causing him to fall to the ground and striking him on the face”.
The trial heard how former postman Moore, who was off-duty, claimed he acted in self-defence by using a “defensive strike” in order to deal with a “male aggressive”.
He said he should have hit the youngster even earlier.
He told the court he was unaware the child was only 13 at the time.
The victim said he was trying to explain the circumstances behind an on-field fight between young players.
