Fairground worker is cleared of attacking teenager at shows

Girl, 14, claimed that he punched her during row

A fairground worker has been cleared of battering a girl of 14 at town centre shows.

Trent Irvin, 42, faced claims he repeatedly punched her during a row at his ride.

The carnival worker had set-up his stall as part of festive celebrations.

Irvin walked free after prosecutors dropped the charge at Paisley Sheriff Court.

The girl admitted she had been clambering on his attraction while drunk.

She said: “We were sitting in the inflatable, it was a tube.

“I had cans of Dragon Soup. “I had three, I was fine. “There was shouting, I think he grabbed my hands. “He was angry. “I tried to pull away.

“I remember he hit me once, but I can’t remember after that.

“My eye was swollen for a couple of weeks.”

Irvin had been accused of attacking the teen last November 30.

He had been manning a stall on Paisley High Street.

The girl and three pals and sat on the end of his ride while smoking and downing alcopops.

The teen – who cannot be named for legal reasons – claimed Irvin repeatedly punched her.

She gave evidence via remote video link, supported by an adult.

The girl conceded her memory was sketchy, admitting: “I can’t remember. I had a drink in me.”

She also admitted a schoolboy pal, also 14, had threatened to “crack” him during the spat.

The lad claimed the worker pounced after knocking a cigarette from her hand.

He said: “We were sitting on the inflatable ride.

“He hit the fag out my pal’s hand. “He pushed her. “He started shouting and bawling. “He told us to get up. “It was his inflatable.” Defence lawyer Rosalyn McTaggart insisted the teens had sparked the rammy by stubbing cigarettes out on the attraction.

She pointed out flaws in their stories and maintained they had turned violent.

The brief claimed her client had raised his hands to defend himself but had not lashed out at the girl.

Irvin, o f No r th Lanarkshire, was allowed to leave the dock after the single charge was abandoned.