Actually, the girl's remark, particularly at the present stage of English "civilisation" could well have had very nasty repercussions. The accusation that an "old" man is staring at a "young" girl carries the baggage of our current obsession with paedophilia, and there are plenty of wannabee vigilates ready to "teach an old perv a lesson".

Also there are plenty of "happy slappers" ready to take up the implicit invitation.

What she said could have put Dave Polshaw in very serious danger. She badly needed a lesson.