November 2009 Mum’s beast blast A MUM whose son was assaulted by a pervert ice cream man last night slammed the “shocking” council decision to grant him a street trader’s licence. The 33-year-old woman hit out after George Ward, from Inverkeithing 33, attacked the boy of 12 during his round. West Lothian Council insisted registered sex offender Ward conned them by lying about his name and age. But the mother said: “They should have looked into it further. Kids are going to use an ice cream van.” Ward, of Inverkeithing, Fife — who grabbed the boy and pulled him towards his van in Livingston — got his licence despite having convictions for public indecency and stalking. He was subject to an order which included getting police permission to take up any job. He had sentence deferred at Livingston Sheriff Court. The council said: “We have changed our procedures.”