A Scottish sheriff court on August 23, 2025, convicted Bulgarian migrant Ilia Belov, 22, of assaulting a 12‑year‑old girl and threatening a group of children in Dundee. The verdict overturns earlier police statements that had blamed the youngsters, and it follows a widely shared video of a 13‑year‑old brandishing a hand‑axe and knife during the confrontation.

Ilia Belov’s “hello sexy” remarks sparked the Dundee clash

According to the court record, Belov approached four girls aged 12 to 14 and shouted lewd comments such as “hello sexy, I will show you a good time,” prompting the girls to call him a “creep.” Sheriff Timothy Niven‑Smith described Belov’s testimony that he was merely buying cigarettes as “wholly unconvincing and self‑serving.” The judge affirmed that the comments were the trigger for the subsequent violence.

Physical assault details: hair‑pulling, throws and a hospital stay

The evidence presented showed Belov pushing a 12‑year‑old to the ground,while his sister Nadjedzha Belova, 20, pulled a 13‑year‑old’s hair, dragged her to the floor and struck her. Another 12‑year‑old was thrown, resulting in one girl requiring hospitalization. Both siblings have been ordered to appear for sentencing on August 5.

Police misstatement fuels public outrage and political backlash

Initial police reports blamed the children for possessing offensive weapons, prompting accusations of misinformation. The force later admitted its statements did not fully reflect the facts but stopped short of a formal apology. Former First Minister Humza Yousaf and other politicians condemned online commentary they deemed racist, adding a political dimension to the case.

Mother of victim praises court’s reversal of the narrative

The mother of one of the assaulted girls welcomed the conviction, saying the girls “were telling the truth and were slandered.” She expressed relief that the court had set the record straight after the initial narrative painted the children as the aggressors.

What remains unclear about the siblings’ motives and future sentencing?

While the court established the siblings’ culpability, it did not discllose the exact length of the upcoming sentences. additionally, investigators have not clarified whether Belov’s claim of being threatened by the girls was based on any tangible evidence,leaving questions about the full scope of the altercation.