A dad who gave his eight-year-old son a “clip round the ear” has been given an absolute discharge by an Angus sheriff.
The man, who cannot be named, slapped the boy’s head after he became abusive towards his parents but police became involved when the youngster told a teacher he could not hear properly during a spelling test because he had been hit at home.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the child suffers from behavioural issues at home and school and on the day of the offence had been shouting at his mother before he was slapped on the ear.
The 29-year-old dad immediately told his wife he felt guilty over what he had done.
Defence solicitor Nick Whelan said the child suffered no injury but the incident had been “something of a tragedy for the family”.
“The boy offers not only abusive language towards his parents but also violent behaviour,” he said.
“He had struck his mum that morning and, to be frank, my client lashed out and immediately accepts he applied too much force.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said: “In the particular circumstances of this case, I consider that it’s appropriate to deal with the matter by way of an absolute discharge.”
