A MAN accused of abusing a toddler so badly that the youngster tried to barricade a door with his toys to stop a social worker from leaving them alone together must wait to learn his fate.

Michael Neilson, 66, is said to have repeatedly targeted the boy over a 16-month period.

He went on trial at Paisley Sheriff Court earlier this year on 11 charges – five of assaulting the child, four of behaving in a threatening or abusive way towards him, one of wilfully ill treating him and one of abusing social workers by shouting and swearing at them and recording them on his phone.

Last week, he was cleared of three of the charges – two of assaulting the boy and one of shouting, swearing and threatening him – but still stands accused of eight offences.

Social worker Shenaz Souter said the youngster, who can’t be named for legal reasons, tried to prevent her leaving him alone with Neilson at his home in Bridge of Weir.

She said she was assigned to work with the boy through her job with Renfrewshire Council.

Miss Souter, 28, added: “He had actually piled up lots and lots of toys and built them up against the front door to stop me getting through the door.”

Neilson, who is originally from the Middle East and had the benefit of an Arabic interpreter in court, did not give evidence but his video-recorded police interview was shown.

In it, he could be heard telling the officers that he did shout at the boy, to pretend he was being serious, but did not swear at him in English.

He explained: “I swear in Lebanon language when I swear. I swear in Arabic.

“I did not slap him in the face.”

After hearing closing speeches in the trial, Sheriff Craig Harris opted to adjourn the case until next month to deliver his verdict on the remaining eight charges Neilson faces.