Man fell asleep in car with its engine running and child inside

COURT: He admits exposing eight-yearold to unnecessary suffering while he was unconscious and could not be roused

A man has admitted exposing a child to unnecessary suffering after falling asleep in a car with its engine running outside a McDonald’s restaurant.

Steven Smith appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday and pled guilty to the child neglect charge.

The 29-year-old was found asleep in his car outside the fast-food branch in Glenrothes during the early hours of September 16 last year.

A young child, then aged eight, was also inside the vehicle which had its engine running and the doors unlocked.

A quantity of controlled drugs, namely diazepam, was found within reach of the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Smith, of Laurel Avenue in Methil, admitted he drove the child to a public car park and fell asleep to the point he was “rendered unconscious” and could not be roused.

Defence solicitor Joe Mooney told the court his client was prepared to plead guilty to an amended charge whereby he exposed the youngster to unnecessary suffering.

He added that his client had previous convictions for road traffic matters and a breach of the peace.

A second charge of being in possession of the class C drug diazepam was dropped after Mr Smith’s not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Alison McKay told Smith he would have to re-appear for sentencing as she wanted more information from social workers.

She said: “I am sure when you heard this charge being read out, you realised it was a serious matter. I am not prepared to deal with it today.

“I want further investigations to be carried out so I’m going to defer sentence for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order.

“You may not remember this but as part of your bail conditions, you must co-operate with the reports.”

Smith, will appear for sentencing on August 14.