Brute slapped tot in front of nursery staff
He admits assault on three-year-old child
A shop worker who slapped a tot at a nursery has been hit with a fine, after admitting the assault at court yesterday.
Azharullah Khan, 37, belted the youngster at a pre-five nursery school in Renfrew in front of horrified staff members.
The three- year- old boy was left with red marks on his face, caused by Khan hitting him, as well as being left distraught by the incident.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard retail worker Khan, of Paisley Road, in Renfrew, pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, when he appeared at a hearing yesterday.
Fi s c a l d e p u t e Ha z e l Emmerson said: “The locus is a local authority nursery looking after children under the age of five.
“On February 16, the accused was observed to strike a child at the nursery with the back of his hand.
“This took place in front of witnesses.
“Witnesses observed the child had a mark on his face.
“Staff members informed their supervisor, who instructed forms noting the incident had to be filled in.”
The fiscal added that nursery workers contacted police and also notified the local authority social work department.
Yesterday, defence agent Mr Amir confirmed the shop worker was admitting the offence when he appeared before Sheriff David Pender.
He said: “He has pleaded guilty to the offence at the earliest opportunity.
“He fully accepts responsibility for the matter.
“He has no prior involvement with the criminal justice system or any previous convictions.
“I would urge to court to consider imposing a financial penalty. “He regrets the matter. “I would hope the court would not require to impose a community payback order.”
Sheriff David Pender agreed with the lawyer, saying he was willing to hand the first offender a fine.
He said: “There is no need to deal with this by way of a community payback order.
“I will impose a fine of £400.”
The accused was allowed to pay the punishment at £25 a week.