Man ‘locked 13-month-old girl inside tumble dryer and turned it on’

Mother of victim asked Thomas Dunn to look after daughter as she considered him a ‘friend’

Thomas Dunn is on trial accused of assault at Dundee Sheriff Court (PA)

A man locked a 13-month-old girl in a tumble dryer and turned the machine on, putting her life in danger, a court has heard.

Thomas Dunn allegedly carried out the attack while he looked after the girl as a favour to the toddler’s mother, who was a friend of his.

The 25-year-old is on trial charged with four counts of assault against two children at his flat in Arbroath, on the east coast of Scotland.

The assaults are said to have taken place between April 2015 and January 2018.

On one occasion, Mr Dunn is alleged to have placed the young girl inside the drum of his tumble dryer, before closing the door and activating the mechanism.

The jury at Dundee Sheriff Court, which began sitting on Monday, heard evidence from the mother of the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

She said she had asked Mr Dunn to look after her daughter on three separate occasions to give her a break.

Describing him as a friend, she said: “I felt like he was the only person who was helping me. I was really struggling.

“He was helping me. I felt like he was a support at that time.”

Mr Dunn denies the charges, and the trial continues.