# Canadian bridal shop owner cleared after hanging child on coat hook

> Canadian bridal shop owner Rodney Philpott cleared of child assault after court ruled no criminal conviction.
- Title: Canadian bridal shop owner cleared after hanging child on…
- Summary: Canadian bridal shop owner Rodney Philpott cleared of child assault after court ruled no criminal conviction. Rodney Philpott, 54, received absolute…
- Keywords: rodney philpott, seattle, canada, provincial court, absolute discharge, child assault, coat hook, news, world, Canadian, bridal, shop
- Source: The Straits Times — https://straitstimes.com/world/canadian-bridal-shop-owner-who-put-child-onto-a-coat-hook-cleared-by-court
- Published: 2026-10-03T02:10:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rodney philpott, seattle, canada, provincial court, absolute discharge, child assault, coat hook, news, world
## Rodney Philpott
Canadian bridal shop owner Rodney Philpott was found guilty in July of assaulting a 7-year-old boy.
## Hanging child on coat hook
Philpott hung the boy on a coat hook after turning the hood of his winter coat inside out.
## Absolute discharge granted
A judge granted Philpott an absolute discharge in September, meaning no criminal conviction was recorded.
## Judge's reasoning
The judge described the act as ill-advised horseplay, not malicious, noting the boy was hyperactive and distracting in the store.
## No public threat
Despite the boy's distress, the judge ruled Philpott posed no threat to the public and was a respected community member.
## Key takeaway

Rodney Philpott, 54, received absolute discharge for hanging a 7-year-old boy on a coat hook after being found guilty in July.