The mum of an 11-year-old boy tasered by police during a stand off at a Scots holiday park has spoken out to defend her son.
The youngster, who has learning difficulties and cannot be identified, was taken down by the 50,000 volt stun gun after being surrounded by officers at Craig Tara caravan park in Ayr.
His mum told how her son was holding a butter knife after complaining of not getting a Burger King when the incident unfolded and branded his treatment “disgusting”.
She spoke out after shocking footage was shared online, saying: “I wasn’t having him portrayed as a little thug.
“They have just treated him like a criminal and he’s never been in trouble with police or at school. He’s a good boy who just got overwhelmed.
“He says one of them called him a ‘little maggot’. It’s just disgusting.”
Footage emerged this week of the March incident, showing several officers asking the boy to put down his weapon.
In another video filmed by the boy, he begs officers “stop coming at me” before the taser is discharged.
The schoolboy’s mum said she called officers to the park because he ran off and couldn’t be found when he couldn’t get a Burger King because it had shut.
Police Scotland said the 11.15pm incident was “resolved with no serious injuries” but the boy’s mum says he has been left “traumatised” and has a scar on his leg.
She believes the family deserve an apology from the force and has contacted a solicitor.
She said: “There shouldn’t have been so many people around him. They should have been telling him it was ok.
“He was cornered and they were holding up these big tasers. He was terrified and they could have done it a completely different way.
“I’ve had to give several statements to different people. They aren’t sorry, they’re saying they had to do it. But I don’t think they did.
“He would have dropped (the butter knife) if they had approached him more calmly.”
The boy was taken to hospital following the incident and has been unable to return to school full time.
His mum said: “When he came home he was silent. All he did was sit in his room. He was just traumatised by it. Anybody would be.
“The more I spoke to people about this the more I realised I have a right and I can do something about this.
“Some people have been horrible, calling him a little thug. Now the story is out there I hope people will see it differently.”
The office of the Children’s and Young People’s Commissioner in Scotland has expressed concern over the incident on March 22.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of a Child has previously called for a ban of their use on youngsters.
Police Scotland said the incident was “contained” and there was “no risk to the wider public”.
A force spokesperson said: “‘The incident was resolved with no serious injuries.
“A Taser was discharged during this incident. As part of standard procedure, the circumstances of the incident were referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.”
Responding to media reports at the time, the force said the incident would be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) "as part of standard procedure".
A Pirc spokeswoman said: "Police Scotland referred the use of Taser to Pirc as is required.
"We are investigating the circumstances, and once our investigations are complete a report will be issued to the chief constable."
On the mum’s claims regarding the incident, Police Scotland added: “As there is an ongoing PIRC investigation we are unable to comment.”
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