The sentencing of a Bulgarian man found guilty of assaulting a 12-year-old girl during an incident in Dundee last year has been postponed for a second time.

Ilia Belov, 22, was also convicted of behaving in a “threatening or abusive manner” towards four girls, all of whom were aged between 12 and 14, following a trial at Dundee Sheriff Court earlier this year.

Belov’s sister Nadjedzha Belova, 20, also pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a 13-year-old girl in the incident, which happened in the Lochee area of the city in August 2025.

The sentencing of the pair was scheduled to take place at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday, but was adjourned due to the absence of a criminal social justice work report for Belov.

The sentencing was originally scheduled to take place August 5 but was delayed due to reports not being ready.

Sentencing of the pair will now take place on October 9.

Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith said the latest delay was caused by the social worker dealing with Belov’s case being absent from work.

He told the court: “It’s only fair to say it is through no fault of Belov that the report is not available.

“Regrettably the social worker who was allocated the case has been unwell and off work, and that seems to be the explanation why there is no report.

“Mr Belov knows he is to attend interview at 2pm tomorrow for the purpose of the report.”

The sheriff also pointed to differences between the version of events in Bevlova’s report and evidence heard during the two-day trial.

“Much of what she said to the author of the report about the circumstances giving rise to her involvement does not fit with the evidence before the court,” he said

“That’s a matter that I require to be discussed.”

He went on: “Regrettably at this stage the case cannot be disposed of.

“The diet will be adjourned for the preparation of the criminal social work report.

“A date has been identified for Friday October 9 2026, when hopefully the court will be able to dispose of the case.”

The siblings, who followed proceedings in court with the assistance of a Bulgarian translator, spoke only to confirm their names.

During the trial, the court heard the incident began when Belov made sexual remarks to a 12-year-old girl as she walked towards a bus stop with some other girls.

Giving evidence by video-link, the girl, who is now 13, recalled: “He kept saying, ‘come here sexy. I will show you how to have a good time’.”

She said his words made her feel “dead angry”, and she turned around and began shouting at him.

Belov then phoned his sister, who arrived shortly afterwards and began attacking a 13-year-old member of the group.

In the ensuing fracas, Belov pushed the 12-year-old, who told the court she hit her head on a metal handrail as she fell to the ground.

After standing back up she pulled out an axe and knife she said had been hiding in her waistband for five to 10 minutes before the incident.

She said after revealing the weapons she was “basically sat holding them”, saying she “knew” the man would “try to go for (the other girl)”.

When the police arrived minutes later, the girl said she dumped the weapons on a nearby roundabout, where they were later recovered by officers.

Giving evidence during the trial, Belov claimed he had pushed the girl in order to protect his sister after seeing she had a knife hidden under her T-shirt.

He also denied having made sexualised remarks to the girls, telling the court they had been saying derogatory things to him, including calling him a “f****** migrant”.

However Sheriff Niven-Smith rejected Belov’s version of events, describing it as “neither credible nor reliable”.