Hot sauce joke lands dad in the soup
A DAD has been reduced to tears after a gag he made about feeding his newborn son hot sauce led to a police investigation.
Hairdresser Paul Dawson, 39, posted on social media how fiveday-old Ben had pulled a “funny face” tasting the dressing.
But two days later, officers called at his home in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, following a complaint. Paul and partner Laurencia, 21, had visited their local TGI Fridays restaurant.
He explained: “I was eating hot wings and then I held Ben while Laurencia ate her food.
“I had wiped my hands. But he wasn’t happy so I put my knuckle in his mouth, forgetting what I’d eaten. He made a funny face.”
But Paul quipped on Facebook: “Apparently five-day-old babies don’t like it when dads put fingers in their mouths after eating hot wings. Unintentionally, by the way.”
Yet the smiles disappeared when the officers arrived.
Paul, who has two children from a previous marriage, added: “I was tearful that someone called police.
“They were shown the post and just looked embarrassed. They apologised and admitted that they shouldn’t have been called.
“I can’t believe they were sent out without looking into it. It was disgusting. Whoever reported it must have been acting maliciously.”
Cleveland Police, who confirmed they were called over concerns for the welfare of the baby, said: “Officers were satisfied the baby was safe and they left.”