A Renfrew man left a five-year-old girl’s face marked and bruised after he slapped claiming he just “lost it.”
Bully Jonathan Engles, laughed at the little girl, who can’t be named for legal reasons, when she hurt her wrist.
Engles, 37, then “lost it” when she kicked him and slapped her face so hard he left it bruised and swollen.
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Prosecutor, Michael Cunningham told Paisley Sheriff Court: “The child was picked up and taken to meet the accused on Friday, March 27, 2020. Around 9.30am on Sunday, March 29, the girl was in the accused’s bedroom and while she was in there, she hurt her wrist and began to cry.
“Engles began laughing at her and the little girl kicked the accused. He then slapped her face causing a mark and bruising on the right hand side of her face. The girl immediately began to scream and cry.
“She then went to another bedroom and told an older woman what had happened and this woman calmed the girl down. This woman spoke with Engles and he said he ‘just lost it’ and apologised to the girl.”
Court heard later that day, the girl was taken home and her mother noticed the bruising on her face.
Mr Cunningham added: “The girl’s mother observed bruising and swelling to the girl’s face and took pictures of it. On Monday, March 30, she reported the injuries to the police.
“Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, officers were unable to formally caution and charge Engles but he was telephoned and advised a report would be submitted to my office.”
Defence agent Kirsty McGeehan urged background reports would be beneficial in this case and reserved further mitigation.
Sheriff Lindsay Kooner deferred sentencing for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report.
Engles, of Mulberry Square, Renfrew, had his bail order continued and will return to court for sentencing next month.
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