A DISPUTE about money going missing ended with a 13-year-old boy being assaulted.

The incident, on New Year’s Day, resulted in 69-year-old William Philip appearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Philip, of Carden Castle Park, Cardenden, admitted that on January 1, at his home address, he assaulted a boy, then aged 13, by overturning a chair he was sitting on, causing him to fall off it, seized him by his clothing, seized him by the neck and pushed him down, to his injury.

Sheriff Alastair Brown commented: “He’s told the social worker if he had stolen money at that age, he’d have been belted and that they should bring back the belt in schools.

“Whether or not they’ve taken money, a 13-year-old is a child,” he added.

The Court was told Philip was remorseful for his actions.

The Sheriff told Philip: “Whatever the background was, you don’t raise your hands in this way to a child.”

He imposed a two-month restriction of liberty order.