Man faces jail after hurling homophobic abuse towards nine-year-old boy and assaulting him
Craig Stodden will appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on October 28
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A man is facing jail after hurling homophobic abuse towards a nine-year-boy and assaulting him.
Last week, Craig Stoddon appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after admitting to hitting the boy and calling him homophobic names.
Back in December, the boy was found alone in the rain without shoes or a jacket after Stodden ordered him to leave his own house in Irvine, the court heard
According to Irvine Times, fiscal depute, Vicky McMillan told the court: “He shouted at the boy, ‘Get the fuck out of here’.
“This caused the boy to cry. The accused bent down to him and shouted, ‘Why the fuck are you crying?’ and then struck him to the chest.
“This caused the boy to fall on to the floor. His mother went to see him and she told the accused to leave the child alone.
“The accused then called the child ‘a pussy, a gayboy and a homosexual’ and then stated, ‘Get the fuck out I don’t want you in this house anymore’.
“The child ran out of the house. There was a number of witnesses in a car driving along the road when they observed the boy standing in the road way with no shoes and jacket on which they thought odd, given the heavy rain.
“They took the child in to the vehicle for safety and contacted police before taking him to Irvine Police Office.”
Stodden then stopped the car and asked the driver if they had seen him, not knowing the boy was hiding inside.
McMillan continued: “As they were on the way there they were approached by the accused on a bike asking if they had seen a young boy.
“The accused was unable to see the child inside the car. The child was asked if he knew the accused and he said no so they continued to Irvine Police Office.
“At the same time the child’s mother reported the child as missing and she was informed that he was at the police station.
“The accused was arrested. The child was taken to Crosshouse Hospital and assessed and was found to have bruising to his chest.
“The accused was interviewed and admitted to swearing at the boy and telling him to leave the house.”
Stodden will return to court on October 23 for sentencing.