Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Gordon Currie

Angry ex police officer tried to bite dad in dispute at kid's football match

A police officer incensed over a dispute at a children’s football match landed several punches on another dad and attempted to bite him several times.

Darren Moore, of Dundee, Scotland, admitted attacking Mr Wemyss by punching him on the head and body, as well as trying to bite him during the incident on September 18, 2021.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told that it was the second time in two months the disgraced 42-year-old had been convicted of assault.

In December he was found guilty of attacking an autistic child in another row sparked by a football match being played by young boys, The Daily Record reported.

Moore had a second charge of acting in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering derogatory remarks dropped by the Crown.

Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court that there had been an incident between youngsters during a football match and Mr Wemyss had intervened.

"The accused was observed running towards the location, looking angry. The complainer was contacted to warn him to lock his door," she said.

"The complainer came out and was met in the street by the accused who was remonstrating with him.

"A struggle ensued, with Mr Wemyss pinning the accused to the ground to prevent further escalation.

"He continued to struggle and tried to bite him on the arms multiple times. The accused punched Mr Wemyss to the head and body.

"The police were contacted and the accused stated to his colleagues 'at best it was a stand-up fight'. He made no response to caution and charge.

"Mr Wemyss had a lump to the back of his head and visible abrasions to his elbows and knees, which were bleeding as a result."

Solicitor Ross Donnelly, defending, said: "At the time of this incident the accused was a serving police officer, but he has now left that employment.

"He had no previous convictions at the time of this, but he has subsequently been convicted of assault after trial and fined £700 in that case.

"The circumstances of this case appear similar to the matter that went to trial. It also involved an incident at a football match. On the other occasion, the complainer was a child."

Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence for background reports and Moore, who was not present in court, was ordained to appear at the end of February.

The same court heard in December how Moore attacked an autistic 13-year-old schoolboy in a row sparked by another children's football match.

A sheriff told Moore she believed the child's evidence was more credible and reliable than his and found him guilty.

Sheriff Alison Michie fined Moore £750 and said: "Both you and the complainer spoke to the fact he was wanting to tell you what happened during the course of the incident on the pitch.

"The issue is who is the aggressor and whether it is the complainer or yourself? Your position was that you did this in self-defence.

"I found the evidence of the complainer and other Crown witnesses to be credible and reliable, and I do not find the position outlined by you to be credible.

"I'm asked to accept that a 13-year-old has approached you for no apparent reason and tried to headbutt you. I did not accept that.

"In your evidence, you refused to concede that he was clearly a child at the time. You insisted on calling him 'the male aggressor.'

"His mother speaks to your aggressive demeanour and derogatory remarks about her son and you told her you slapped him.

"You denied that in evidence, but in your Facebook message to your supervising officer you referred to a 'push/slap' to get him away."

Moore was found guilty of attacking and injuring the 13-year-old boy by "forcefully pressing his hand against his head, pushing him on the body causing him to fall to the ground and striking him on the face."

The boy told the court a group of young children had been playing football in a park when the game ended after a bad tackle led to a stand-up fight.

He said he was walking one of the boys to a nearby shop to get a drink when he was confronted by Moore, who appeared to be aggressive and angry.

"I had never met him before," the teenager, now 16, told the court.

"He walked aggressively towards me. I tried to tell him what happened.

"He was bigger than me. He was broader. He put his head on me.

"I'm sure he grabbed me [on the collar] and punched me on the left cheek.

"It happened that fast I did not have time to think.

"I fell instantly from the force of the impact from the punch. I have got a picture of the handprint on my face. I went to the hospital."

The boy's friend, now 15, said he saw the attack and noticed how the victim was left feeling anxious and had a large and obvious bruise on his face.

The victim's mother told the court: "He was really upset, saying he had been assaulted. He had marks on his face. He was in distress."

She went to Moore's home to discuss the incident and said: "He was quite aggressive and swearing at me, telling me my son was a little shit. He said he slapped him."

Moore, who denied the attack and claimed he acted in self-defence, told the trial: "At the time he was a male aggressor. We now know he was a child.

"I put in a strike, from my training, and caught him in the upper chest and face. He lost his footing and has fallen on the ground."

Moore messaged Sgt Rory Duncan, 44, and said: "Looking for advice. The lad, who is at least height with me, put his head on my nose and pushed forward and my reaction was to push/slap him on the face to get away.

"Feel s**t mate. Could my job be at risk? I have to think about that."

Sheriff Michie rejected former postman Moore's claim that he acted in self-defence and said it would have been obvious that his victim was a young boy.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.