DAVID PARKER SHOCKS GLASGOW AND EAST KILBRIDE WITH BABY ASSAULT AT KFC

In August 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded involving David Parker, a 33-year-old former soldier from East Kilbride, who was convicted and sentenced to 14 months in prison for assaulting a four-and-a-half-month-old baby at a KFC restaurant located on Argyle Street in Glasgow.

The assault took place on June 10, 2017, during a day when Parker was entrusted with caring for the young child. According to court proceedings, Parker was in the company of two other men, including Kenneth Grant, a known sex offender who was under a sexual offences prevention order designed to prevent him from having contact with children. The court heard that Parker had taken the infant into the baby changing toilet at the KFC for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

When Parker returned with the baby, witnesses observed that the child was crying and appeared to be in a state of distress. The child's mother, upon noticing injuries on her son’s face—such as a swollen cheek, a bloody eye, and bruises on his face, head, and thighs—immediately became concerned and contacted the police. The injuries prompted urgent medical attention, and the baby was transported to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride before being transferred to Wishaw General Hospital for further assessment.

Medical examinations revealed multiple bruises: bruising on both thighs, various marks on the head, and additional bruises on the cheeks. The severity of the injuries led to a police investigation, during which Parker admitted to assaulting the child by “inflicting blunt force trauma on his head and body by means unknown.” He also confessed to providing false information to the authorities with the intent to pervert the course of justice.

During police questioning, Parker claimed he was with a friend named Paul at the time of the incident. However, CCTV footage from the KFC contradicted his statement, showing Parker with Kenneth Grant, who was seen attempting to hide the baby’s face. The footage also depicted the child crying and visibly distressed after leaving the changing area.

Further investigation revealed that Parker was aware of Grant’s status as a sex offender and that Grant had expressed his displeasure at Parker bringing the child along. Grant later admitted to officers that he was “cursing and swearing at him” and acknowledged that he knew he should not be near children, thus breaching his sexual offences prevention order.

In court, Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC emphasized the vulnerability of infants, stating, “There’s nobody more vulnerable than an infant,” as she sentenced Parker to 14 months in prison for the assault. The court also heard that Parker had lost his job due to the incident and was likely to be unemployable in the future because of the conviction.

Additionally, Kenneth Grant accepted that he had breached his sexual offences prevention order by being in the presence of a child and interacting with the baby during the day in Glasgow. Grant’s involvement and breach of the order were considered serious, given his known status as a sex offender.

Overall, the case highlighted the grave risks and consequences of neglect and abuse involving vulnerable children, with the court condemning Parker’s actions and emphasizing the importance of protecting infants from harm.