Perthshire stepdad in court for smacking youngster

A stepfather who was arrested after using violence to discipline a five-year-old boy has been admonished.

The 34-year-old ended up in court after the boy told teachers he had been smacked on the bottom at home.

Perth Sheriff Court had been told the man had carried out the punishment on the youngster in front of his mother and she had not been concerned.

He only came to the attention of the police after worried teachers contacted social workers.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted assaulting his stepson by pulling down his trousers and repeatedly striking his naked bottom to his injury at an address in Perthshire on August 27 last year.

The court was told on Wednesday that the parties were in daily contact and that the incident could be treated as a one-off.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: “You have been of good behaviour and it is also correct to say that you are a first offender. Taking all of these factors into account, I am prepared to admonish you.”

The stepfather declined to comment.