A man claims he slapped a teenage boy outside a Co-op after stepping in to protect “an older gentleman” from hooded youths.
Dean Harman, 30, previously admitted assaulting the then-14-year-old by seizing him by the clothing, dragging him and striking him on the head.
The incident took place outside the store in Lochgelly‘s Bank Street on November 3 last year.
Fiscal depute Azrah Yousaf confirmed in court the teenage boy and a friend were asked to leave the shop that day by a member of staff, who recognised them as causing a disturbance beforehand.
Dragged and slapped
The prosecutor told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the pair had collected their items and paid and were in the process of leaving when Harman “met one of them in the aisle and said something to them”.
Ms Yousaf said Harman walked past the boy outside and grabbed his food from him as he ate and it fell to the ground.
The fiscal said Harman went on to grab the boy by the jacket and drag him outside and was seen to slap him on the left side of the face.
Members of the public intervened.
Ms Yousaf continued: “The complainer (the boy) is crying and police are contacted by staff members”.
The fiscal said Harman, of Lochgelly’s Russell Street, returned to the scene when police arrived and said he acted in the manner described.
‘Sticking up’ for older man
No detailed defence mitigation was given in court but Harman told The Courier after proceedings there have been problems with youths stealing from the shop and abusing staff.
He said if a group surround a staff member saying “make me leave” or “what you gonna do about it” then “they should be prepared for someone who will actually do something”.
In a Facebook post following the incident in November, Harman claimed he saw a group of young lads wearing hoods “having a go at an old man” after being barred from the shop and not leaving.
He said he was “sticking up” for the man and gave one of the boys an “open handed b*tch slap round the head”.
He wrote: “I was always brought up to respect my elders. Not to terrorise them or shop staff for that matter.”
Harman said he sorted the matter out with police straight after the incident.
He added: “I protected an older gentleman who was trying to defuse the situation, so I feel my actions were justified and will potentially make these lads think about their actions now, knowing they may have consequences”.
‘Vociferous’ youths
In reference to a background report, Sheriff Edward Gilroy said: “These young men were perhaps more vociferous about leaving the shop than in the Crown narrative.
“Beyond that it’s a slap”.
He told Harman: “You became involved in a situation where (you were) perhaps best staying out of it.
“Clearly it’s a child of 14 years old. No matter if he was misbehaving you certainly should not be laying hands on him.
“I take the view you now have a criminal conviction for assault – that’s probably sufficient punishment”.
The sheriff deferred sentence for six months for Harman to be of good behaviour.
Sheriff Gilroy said that if Harman is of good behaviour, that will be taken into account when he next appears in court, adding: “If it was me I would be looking to admonish if he behaves”.
Harman’s next court date was set for October 4.
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