Thug who hit child was sent to centre for vulnerable children to carry out his community service

A THUG who attacked a child had his community service halted early – after social workers sent him to help a charity for vulnerable children.

Steven Welsh was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and arrangements were made for him to do it with the charity.

But a court was told that the process was brought to an abrupt end when staff at Barnardo’s realised what he had been convicted of.

Welsh, 38, was back at Perth Sheriff Court last week to have his probation order reviewed after details of the bungled placement emerged.

His solicitor Cliff Culley said: “Barnardo’s realised the nature of the offence he was convicted of so he could not continue there.”

Welsh, from Perth, was found guilty of attacking and injuring a 15-year-old boy by repeatedly punching his face in a garden near his home in November 2010.

He claimed he was acting in self-defence after the schoolboy lunged at him inthe street but his claim was rejected and he was found guilty after a trial.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulisput the case off until June 25 for a criminal justice social work report.