'Wedgie' man in court

AN IPSWICH man has been ordered to pay compensation for physically reprimanding a nine-year-old boy, by giving him a “wedgie”.

Danny Wilkinson was told to shell out £10 to replace a pair of ripped underpants belonging to the boy, after he lifted him off the ground by his waistband.

Wilkinson, 25, of Rushmere Road, Ipswich appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, charged with assault by beating.

The court heard how Wilkinson had gone to a friend's house, accompanied by his three-year-old daughter, with the intention of selecting a pet from a litter of kittens.

Upon leaving the address, Wilkinson saw his friend's son throwing items from the window of another house and shouting racist comments at an Asian family living next door.

Stephen Coleman, prosecuting, said: “He knew the owner of the house, and when he saw what was happening, tried to get in to stop the boy. He was let in by another child who lived there and went upstairs to find him. It was then that he lifted the boy up by his pants.

“Police were called to attend the incident and in an interview Mr Wilkinson said he had 'given him a wedgie to make him think.'”

Ian Duckworth, representing Wilkinson, said: “My client saw the boy throwing batteries and water onto the street below where he and his daughter were walking. He made the boy stop and took him back to his mother who was not happy about it. Mr Wilkinson later went back to her house and apologised.

“It may have been inappropriate chastisement but there was a time when this sort of thing was sorted out between the parents and that would have been that.”

Wilkinson was ordered to pay £10 for a new pair of boxer shorts for the boy as well as £43 in court costs and was also handed a six month conditional discharge for the offence.