A teenager who was slapped across the face by a father will not receive compensation after a judge ruled the defendant had been provoked.

IPSWICH: A teenager who was slapped across the face by a father will not receive compensation after a judge ruled the defendant had been provoked.

Subhashish Day yesterday pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to assaulting the 14-year-old boy in Ipswich town centre during a shopping trip with his wife and child.

Day lashed out on November 29 after the boy, who was among a group of friends, accidentally hit him on the back of the head with an extendable toy known as a paper laser.

The 40-year-old, of Limetree Drive, Ipswich, chased the boy and slapped him across the face.

Day said he would not have acted so heavy-handedly had he not been carrying his young son at the time.

“I had no idea whether he had punched me or what he may have hit me with but I wanted him to appreciate what may have happened.

“I wanted to discipline him for being so careless but I know it wasn't the right thing to do. I shouldn't have done it.”

After explaining his actions, district judge David Cooper said: “Quite right.”

Judge Cooper added: “I will not be awarding compensation to the victim because of the degree of provocation.

“It was obviously a reckless act, but boys will be boys.”

Day was fined �20 for the assault and fined a further �20 for breaching a conditional discharge imposed for a theft charge. He was also ordered to pay costs of �85.

Was the judge right not to award compensation? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk