Sentencing of Bulgarian man convicted of assaulting 12-year-old girl in Dundee delayed

A Bulgarian man who assaulted a 12-year-old girl and harassed a group of young children in Dundee last year has had his sentencing delayed.

Ilia Belov, 22, was convicted in June at Dundee Sheriff Court of assault and behaving in a “threatening or abusive manner” towards four girls, all of whom were aged between 12 and 14 in the Lochee area of the city last August.

His sister, Nadjedzha Belova, earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a 13-year-old girl during the incident.

A two-day trial heard Belov made sexual remarks to the girls at a bus stop before following the group and calling his sister to the scene when they began shouting back at him. Belova then attacked one of the girls.

In the ensuing fracas, Belov pushed the 12-year-old, who told the court she hit her head on a metal handrail.

The incident made headlines last year after footage emerged showing the 12-year-old pulling a knife and an axe from her waistband following the confrontation.

Belov denied making sexual remarks and claimed he pushed the girl to protect his sister after seeing a knife concealed beneath the child’s T-shirt.

However, Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith rejected Belov’s version of events, describing it as “neither credible nor reliable”.

“For a number of reasons, I find your evidence to be wholly unconvincing and self-serving.”

He also told Belov he rejected his claim that he had seen a knife under the girl’s T-shirt before pushing her.

The sheriff said: “I am entirely satisfied… taking (the girls’ evidence) together with the video footage, that you assaulted (the girl).”

The pair appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court for sentencing on Wednesday but due to unprepared social work reports it was adjourned.

They will return to court at a later date.