Man told girl to kick policeman

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7881404.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A Perthshire man has been fined £100 for telling a seven-year-old girl to kick a policeman.

Thomas Brown, 39, from Rattray, set the youngster on officers after being told he was going to be detained on suspicion of theft.

Perth Sheriff Court heard claims that he had partly meant the comment as an insult to the officers, but the girl was obedient and did as she was told.

Brown admitted "inciting" a child to commit a crime on 3 July last year.

Brown had been detained by police who were searching a home for stolen property.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "He denied involvement in anything, but he was detained by the officers and he was upset.

"He was saying it was nothing to do with him. On the way out, because he was so upset, he accepts he told the girl "there's a policeman, go and kick him." It was a fair result today for telling the kid to kick them. I admit I shouldn't have done it Thomas Brown

"It was partly said in a derogatory manner, but the child, being obedient, did just as she was told.

"It was the wrong thing for an adult to say."

Mr Holmes told the court that the police officer who was assaulted then took the girl to one side and told her she would be taken into care if she tried to kick them again.

Brown spent a night in custody, but the Crown decided not to proceed with any charges against him in relation to the allegations of theft.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher told Brown: "It seems to me to be a very unfortunate thing to involve a child aged seven in your difficulties. That was unwise."

Outside court, Brown said: "The child was sitting in a car outside. She saw me being taken out and she went to go and get me.

"It was a fair result today for telling the kid to kick them. I admit I shouldn't have done it."