The 31-year-old Aberdeen man had previously been found guilty of assaulting his 11-year-old daughter at the family home last Easter.

The father, a first offender, told Aberdeen Sheriff Court he had used the belt as a reasonable chastisement because his daughter had defied him and he feared she had been sniffing aerosol cans.

He hit her around 10 times, leaving her with tramline bruising.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell told the man he viewed the offence as very serious but was taking the "unusual step" of admonishing him due to his particular circumstances.

The girl now lives with her mother and has no contact with her father.

Regretted actions

Defence agent Alistair Drummond said there was no likelihood of the offence reoccurring. He said his client regretted his actions and added: "He went too far on this occasion."

Mr Drummond said that due to the assault conviction his client would no longer be able to begin his planned teaching career.

The man cares for two other children and the sheriff said a fine would be a penalty on the whole family.

Outside the court, the father said he was happy with the outcome and believed it was a fair way to deal with the case.

He added: "I just wish this whole sorry episode never happened, but I still believe in my heart of hearts that I am not guilty of assault.

He said his plans for the future were "dead" as a result of the case, but added that family and friends had been very supportive since the incident took place around 18 months ago.

'Pick up the pieces'

"Now I can get on with my life. I have to just pick up the pieces and just carry on. There is nothing else I can do."

Earlier this year a primary school teacher was admonished after being convicted of assault for smacking his eight-year-old daughter in a dentist's waiting room.

Hamilton Sheriff Court was told that on Christmas Eve the girl became hysterical at a health centre in Motherwell when told she was to have a tooth taken out.

Her 48-year-old father admitted smacking her six times on the bare buttocks.