Man Cleared of Mimicking Disabled Boy
A man accused of mimicking a five-year-old disabled boy has been cleared of harassment.
Steven Beavan, 35, of Rhyl, Denbighshire, had denied the charge and was cleared by a district judge at Prestatyn Magistrates’ Court.
The two-day trial had heard that police hid in a car with the disabled boy – who cannot be named – and saw Mr Beavan making ape-like expressions.
The court heard that Mr Beavan was in a long-running dispute with the family.
On Monday, the court heard that over a six-year period the couple had allegedly called Mr Beavan various abusive names including “vermin”, “scum”, “gayboy” and “gaylord”.
They had had leaflets addressed to “gaylord” sent to his house.
District Judge Andrew Shaw said he had “a very real doubt” about the case.
Prosecutor David Mainstone decided not to call the boy’s mother to give evidence because of her own “reprehensible” behaviour towards Mr Beavan.
She could not be relied on to be truthful, the court had heard.
Instead, he relied on the evidence of police officers who carried out a surveillance operation, accompanying the woman, her husband, and their son on their school run.
On several mornings, it was alleged Mr Beavan feigned a limp as they drove past, patted the top of his head and distorted his face.
Tom Bureau, defending, said it was vital in proving a harassment charge to show that the complainant had been upset by a course of conduct, but the woman had not given evidence on that point.
Same Difference 