Cherie schoolboy dismisses 'slap'

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A boy reported to have been given a playful slap by Cherie Blair for making a "rabbit ears" gesture behind her has said it was all just a bit of fun.

The prime minister's wife was investigated by Strathclyde Police after the incident at a national school sports event in Glasgow last Saturday.

Detectives said "no incident had taken place" and the matter was now closed.

Miles Gandolfi, 17, from Kent, said Mrs Blair had just "tapped" him and it was a joke that police had become involved.

Miles said: "I've no idea why I did it, it was just a bit of fun.

It was all done in good fun Catherine GandolfiMiles' mother

"I didn't expect anything to come of it, she just tapped me and said 'you're lucky I have such a good sense of humour'.

"I didn't think there would be any trouble about it."

The incident took place at the UK School Games, where Miles was competing.

He added: "I had no idea why the police wanted to speak to me, I thought it was a joke. My reaction was just disbelief."

Strathclyde Police took statements from witnesses to the incident but Downing Street confirmed later that no action was expected against Mrs Blair, who is also a Crown Court judge.

Cherie Blair had been meeting schoolchildren in Glasgow

Downing Street said in a statement: "Strathclyde Police undertook an investigation, including taking statements from a number of people who were present.

"These included the 17-year-old boy involved and Mrs Blair's protection officer, who was with her at all times, who said that nothing had occurred between Mrs Blair and the youngster."

Miles, from Chelsfield, said he had some sympathy with the police because they had to act after receiving a complaint.

The 17-year-old said he was now trying to put the events of last week behind him and concentrate on his sport.

'Strange' events

He added: "If they had a report saying something happened then I supposed they had to deal with it. But who gave the report? It's all a bit strange."

Six detectives were sent to investigate the incident after officials from the Child Protection in Sport Unit complained to police.

But witnesses told them it was a light-hearted exchange.

Miles' mother, Catherine, said: "It was all done in good fun. Miles didn't have a problem with it and she didn't either."

Conservative Glasgow MSP Bill Aitken said the investigation had all the hallmarks of a "monumental waste of police time".