A father was visited by police after he posted a joke on Facebook about accidentally giving his baby son hot chilli sauce.

Paul Dawson, 39, said he was left tearful when officers attended his property because somebody reported the post.

The barber had written about a trip to TGI Friday's with his partner Laurencia Wood, 21, and their son Ben who was born on New Year's Day.

Mr Dawson, from Stockton, Teesside, explained Ms Wood had been breastfeeding the child before he took hold of him to allow her to eat her food.

He then put his knuckle in Ben's mouth to pacify him but forgot he had just eaten chilli.


The father said the baby made a "funny face" but did not scream or cry.

He wrote on Facebook: "Apparently five-day-old babies don't like it when their dads put their fingers in their mouths after eating hot wings.

"Unintentionally by the way. Lol."

Image: Ben was accidentally given a taste of hot chilli sauce just days after his birth

Mr Dawson was stunned when officers from Cleveland Police knocked on his door a few days later to ask if he had been feeding the baby hot sauce.

The new dad said he was upset that someone had reported his comments.

He added that the officers left after agreeing they had not read the original Facebook post which sparked their inquiries.

Mr Dawson said: "It upset me, I walked away from them saying 'I'm not even speaking to you'.

"It was supposed to be a happy time, I took a few days off to spend with just my girlfriend and just my son.

"It really spoiled what was supposed to have been a nice week together.

"I haven't had an apology."

Mr Dawson did not blame the officers who attended, but said better checks of his Facebook post should have been made before scarce resources were sent out to speak to him.

He added: "Ben didn't cry, he didn't scream, he pulled a funny little face and that was it.

"To go from a lighthearted funny little occurrence to having the police at your door was shocking to say the least."

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Police received a call from a member of the public regarding concern for the welfare of a baby on Tuesday 8th January.

"As a result, two officers were deployed to an address in Stockton to speak with the parents of the baby to understand the circumstances of the report.

"Officers were satisfied that the baby was safe and well and there were no further enquiries carried out."