Full Breakdown
Dundee Assault Trial Highlights Youth Violence and Legal Stance on Weapons
6/11/2026, 10:09:47 PM
Core Incident and Convictions
Ilia Belov, 22, was found guilty of assaulting a 12-year-old girl and of behaving in a “threatening or abusive manner” toward four other girls aged 12-14 during an August 2025 confrontation in the Lochee area of Dundee. His sister, Nadjedzha Belova, pleaded guilty to assaulting a 13-year-old girl in the same episode. Both defendants await sentencing on 5 August 2025.
Key Individuals
- Ilia Belov – Bulgarian national, primary defendant.
- Nadjedzha Belova – Belov’s sister, secondary defendant.
- Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith – Presiding judge at Dundee Sheriff Court.
- Michael Robertson – Prosecutor representing the Crown.
- Unnamed 13-year-old girl – Victim of Belova’s assault and holder of a concealed knife and axe.
Timeline of Events
- August 2025 – Belov and his sister encounter a group of girls; a physical altercation ensues.
- Trial (date unspecified) – Dundee Sheriff Court hears testimony from Belov, the 13-year-old girl (via video-link), and the prosecution.
- 5 August 2025 – Scheduled sentencing for both defendants.
Data & Statistics
- Four girls (ages 12-14) were threatened or abused by Belov.
- One 12-year-old girl was assaulted by Belov.
- One 13-year-old girl was assaulted by Belova and admitted to carrying a knife and an axe.
- Two defendants faced convictions or guilty pleas.
Official Judicial Statements & Responses
Sheriff Niven-Smith dismissed Belov’s self-defence claim as “wholly unconvincing and self-serving,” emphasizing that the law recognises only offensive weapons. He warned that carrying knives or axes can lead to lethal outcomes and urged the young witness to reflect on the risks of weapon possession in Dundee.
Criticism and Prosecutorial Perspective
Prosecutor Robertson highlighted that, as an adult, Belov could have withdrawn from the scene or contacted police. He questioned Belov’s uncertainty about whether remaining in the area was “wrong,” framing the defendant’s actions as avoidable and unjustified.
On-the-Ground Account from Ilia Belov
Belov testified that he and his father were insulted with “son of a bastard” and “f****** migrant” remarks as they passed the girls. He said he returned to ask why he was disrespected, later phoning his sister when additional girls appeared. Belov claimed he pushed a girl after seeing a knife hidden under her T-shirt to protect his sister.
Conflicting Accounts and Evidentiary Gaps
Belov asserted he saw the knife for the first time during the incident, while the 13-year-old girl admitted she had both a knife and an axe concealed before the confrontation. The sheriff’s statement that “there is no such thing in the law as a defensive weapon” contrasts with Belov’s self-defence narrative, leaving the precise sequence of weapon use unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “wholly unconvincing and self-serving” — Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith
- “Because I am human. I deserve to ask them why I deserve so much disrespect. I didn’t do anything to them.” — Ilia Belov
- “You have candidly explained that you had an axe and a knife, two weapons.” — Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith
- “There is no such thing in the law as a defensive weapon.” — Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith
Upcoming Sentencing
Both Belov and Belova are due to be sentenced on 5 August 2025. The court’s forthcoming judgment will determine custodial terms and any additional penalties related to weapon-carrying offences.
