Seventy-year-old Ronald Fasth said he didn’t know yet whether or not he would appeal the court’s decision.

“I was hoping to be found innocent,” he told TT news agency.

“I think this (decision) is wrong. It’s not about the money, it’s the principle. I haven’t yet decided if I will appeal,” Fasth told Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.

Fasth readily admits that he slapped the boy, saying he did it to keep the peace.

“You have to demand a little respect, otherwise I might have gotten slapped myself,” he told SvD.

“I don’t regret that I slapped him, but I never thought it would become such a big deal,” he said.

The assault occured in July at Folkets Park in Värnamo, where Fasth slapped the 12-year-old after the boy insulted him and then began riding his bicycle across the park’s miniature golf course.

Fasth has been a volunteer at the park since the 1960s.