A MAN pretended to be a police detective and demanded two boys empty their pockets in Dundee city centre.
Robert Clark, 42, grabbed the two boys by their jackets and pinned them against a wall, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
Clark then repeatedly punched one of the boys on the body when they refused to empty their pockets.
The incident took place on December 5 last year, after Clark saw the boys standing at a bus stop at Nethergate.
He smiled and walked past, before going back and grabbing the boys — one who was aged just 15 — by the jacket.
Clark then pulled them into an alcove outside Nethergate Business Centre, and pushed them against a wall.
He told them he was a CID officer and believed they were pickpocketing and demanded they empty their pockets.
The boys refused, asking to see Clark’s identification, and he then became aggressive towards them.
Clark punched the older boy twice on the body before passers by intervened and stopped him.
Clark moved away telling them he was “going to get his pals” and then went to a pub instead. The incident was reported to police and Clark was traced the following day.
He told police the boys “were pickpocketing” but said he did not want to report it to police because he is “not a grass”.
Clark, of Miltonfield, Cupar, admitted two charges against him.
He admitted impersonating a police officer with intent to deceive two children, by telling them he was a detective and that he suspected them of theft and demanding that they empty their pockets on December 5 last year, at Nethergate, Dundee.
He further admitted assaulting two children by seizing hold of them, pushing them against a wall and repeatedly punching one of them on the body, while
demanding they empty their pockets, on the same date and location.
Sheriff Tom Hughes told Clark he could face imprisonment for the offence.
Sheriff Hughes said: “This is a very serious matter and it is entirely possible you are going to get a custodial sentence.”
Sentence was deferred on Clark until April 20 for reports and assessments.
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