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To wonder how I approach my neighbour about her nude son

533 replies

Meanswell · 26/03/2023 22:14

So i feel quite awkward in posting this but i am wondering the best approach as I don’t want to upset anyone but i need to protect my child.

A neighbour who lives near me has a teenage son with non verbal autism. He sometimes like to stand outside the front of the houses. Today my daughter was taking the dog out for a walk. He was outside naked with everything on display. My daughter stood in one spot and he kind of ran towards her. She came straight back in and locked the doo. I genuinely don’t think he meant anything by it but he was left alone for a couple of minutes.

I genuinely don’t want to upset his mum and I know he doesn’t understand why he cannot do that. My daughter feels quite shocked and said she will never go out the front again. I am now worried if he acts inappropriately again, how do I approach this situation gently.

OP posts:
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TheOriginalEmu · 07/02/2025 18:48

Redglitter · 30/01/2025 18:33

ZOMBIE THREAD

@TheOriginalEmu Threads almost 2 years old

Edited

Oh. I’m sorry! I don’t know how that happened! It was in my ‘active’ bit. My apologies!

Tangerinenets · 30/01/2025 18:54

Commented then noticed it’s an old thread .

Choccyscofffy · 30/01/2025 18:46

lipstickwoman · 26/03/2023 22:18

I'd just talk to your daughter and explain. Simple.

Your neighbour is probably completely mortified and doing the best she can. There was nothing malicious or pervy. Your daughter needs to understand there are people in this life who need some tolerance and understanding

Why does OP’s DD’s safety have to disregarded to accommodate this teen? He is likely stronger than OP’s dd.

I would report it so the family get additional support and OP’s can be safe.

Edit: Zombie, ffs.

Redglitter · 30/01/2025 18:33

ZOMBIE THREAD

@TheOriginalEmu Threads almost 2 years old

TheOriginalEmu · 30/01/2025 17:50

Meanswell · 26/03/2023 22:20

yes really. His mum is very overprotective of him and i dont think she knew anyone saw him. Its also a matter of safety for him also .

I have told my daughter, she kind of understands but she is early teens and I think she is shocked still

Your child is old enough to understand that he is essentially a toddler in an adult body. She doesn’t need to be ‘protected’. He didn’t do anything to her. Saying she’s never going out the front again is a very extreme reaction and you’d be better working on her understanding of the world.

Chastefellow · 30/01/2025 17:41

This reply has been deleted

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MessOfEyelinerAndSpraypaint · 31/03/2023 02:38

My daughter was assaulted by a young man with similar neurodiversity/llimited learning incapacity. I had flagged up to the so-called carers thar leaving him unattended for 23 hours a day resulted in him standing at windows & obsessing over women.
My daughter was 16, ptsd & asd. Her first foray to college after hospital school.
He chased her down the shared driveway & grabbed her in a clinch, kissing her hard, with tongue.
She refused to leave home for years & has anorexia.
Her response was compassion: we ensured he has had 24 hour care ever since & did not involve police etc. His quality of life has improved hugely: busy social life, holidays. This is good. But my poor daughter...
So equip your daughter with information & resilience, but also speak to your neighbour. Perhaps she needs more help & this incident could start the process. Do not risk your daughters wellbeing by believing differently abled people shouldn't face consequences-it doesn't mean bad or unpleasant. Both of them deserve their best life.

irreverent · 31/03/2023 01:58

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 16:50

Indeed

I don't think anyone is really understanding what those figures mean. Assuming the lower end as accurate, only 1 in 20 sexual offenders have a history of indecent exposure. That's pretty low considering they're sex offenders and you'd expect them to have a history of it. Up to 1 in 10 at the upper end of what you said, and again still pretty low for sex offenders.

Aerielview · 30/03/2023 09:38

Any update, op? Did you talk to your neighbour?

Andthatstheend · 29/03/2023 13:41

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 16:07

Sadly, Indecent Exposure isn't a crime that the police take terribly seriously - of 10775 offences logged in 2020 only 594 cases reached court. The vast majority of IE isn't even reported and the actual incidence is unknown - official figures say 10-20% of girls & women but probably much higher

5-10% of serious sexual offenders have a history of IE

So true. Was definitely my experience.

Boogismyname · 28/03/2023 21:58

Rosula · 28/03/2023 15:24

Yes, non-verbal doesn't automatically equate to low intelligence. But it's clearly not end of, and the issue anyway is not intelligence but mental capacity. You can lack capacity to make certain decisions or form intentions, but still be perfectly intelligent.

I don't think anyone is saying that an autism diagnosis means that you can behave as you please. But the simple reality is that IF someone with severe autism lacks capacity, then they may not be committing any criminal offence and you won't help people like OP's daughter by saying that they are. That equally doesn't mean that they should be left alone to do whatever they like; what it means is that those concerned should be going down a different route, whether it's by way of providing treatment, proper support and education, full time 1:1 care when they are out and about, sectioning them, or a combination of any of those.

Agree totally.

PonyPatter44 · 28/03/2023 17:32

I think it was @TrashyPanda who pointed out that the boy's behaviour is escalating - he previously stood outside in his pants, now he is standing outside naked and has begun to approach people. In these circumstances, having a polite but firm word with his mum AND a call to Social Services and the local PCSO is the best course of action.

It's all very well saying that his mum should supervise him, but how many people here look after autistic adolescents single-handed, and are literally on their knees from lack of support? Getting official support now may prevent either this boy or another person from more serious harm later on.

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 16:50

emptythelitterbox · 28/03/2023 16:15

No crimes perpetrated by men are taken seriously. Why would they be in a system created by men for men.

Indeed

Aerielview · 28/03/2023 16:28

@Rosula
"You have no right to decide to press charges in your country in relation to an incident that happened in another country."

It's hypothetical. As is everyone else's reply on this thread.....

emptythelitterbox · 28/03/2023 16:15

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 16:07

Sadly, Indecent Exposure isn't a crime that the police take terribly seriously - of 10775 offences logged in 2020 only 594 cases reached court. The vast majority of IE isn't even reported and the actual incidence is unknown - official figures say 10-20% of girls & women but probably much higher

5-10% of serious sexual offenders have a history of IE

No crimes perpetrated by men are taken seriously. Why would they be in a system created by men for men.

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 16:07

Sadly, Indecent Exposure isn't a crime that the police take terribly seriously - of 10775 offences logged in 2020 only 594 cases reached court. The vast majority of IE isn't even reported and the actual incidence is unknown - official figures say 10-20% of girls & women but probably much higher

5-10% of serious sexual offenders have a history of IE

whumpthereitis · 28/03/2023 16:01

Rosula · 28/03/2023 15:04

You have no right to decide to press charges in your country in relation to an incident that happened in another country.

Unless your country has a principal of strict liability, I would seriously question whether this boy would be found to have committed a crime if he lacks the required mental capacity and/or is unable to form the required intent.

If this girl was frightened - and OP doesn't actually say she was - is it better that she spends time making a pointless complaint to the police which goes nowhere, or that the boy gets the proper support, care and possibly treatment so that long term there is no likelihood of recurrence? Even in the wildly unlikely event that he were to be locked up, it would be for a minimal time and she would still find herself living next door to him.

The poster was saying that if this happened to her daughter in the country they live in then she would look to pursue charges.

Surely the police can be the ones to decide whether it’s a pointless case, rather than having the decision made for them? If he has done this previously, or continues to escalate in future, it is also important for the police to be aware of this.

They can also be the ones to refer to the correct authorities if he is found to lack competency.

whumpthereitis · 28/03/2023 15:55

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 15:08

Well there's lots of things we don't know about this actual incident let alone your possible 'other episodes'

As it stands using only the OPs posts which seem to understand the young mans lack of clothes as part of his autism/sensory difficulties and therefore difficult to explain to her understandably frightened daughter

And leaving out all the posited sexual narrative for which there is no evidence from the OP - crucially no reportage of an erection/masturbation/past or present sexualised behaviours

It makes for a very different Safeguarding referral that would not trigger the sort of assessments being discussed leading to secure provision

If on the other hand the nakedness outside the home happens again/becomes persistent and/or sexual elements emerge then that's obviously a different matter

Yes, I’ve been very clear that we don’t know, hence why a potential sexual element cannot be ruled out. Hence why the possibility of there being previous incidences cannot be ruled out. I am not saying there was a sexual element, or that he has done this before, but nor am I dismissing the possibility of both.

That’s why it should be referred to the relevant authorities.

Rosula · 28/03/2023 15:36

I have worked with someone who has a severely autistic young son who has very low cognitive levels and massive sensory problems that have never been properly addressed, and one of those relates to the feel of most clothes. Unless they are just right he does tend to throw them off, so he needs carers with him all the time if he is out and about to ensure he is comfortable and, if necessary, to deter him from undressing. My understanding is that that is not that unusual. If, as frequently happens, his care arrangements break down so that he is able to get out, and he then feels uncomfortable and throws all his clothes off, the remedy that would help everyone most would be to put in place reliable care arrangements (and keep trying to work with him to help him cope with his sensory difficulties) - not to waste the police's time.

Shz · 28/03/2023 15:26

LakieLady · 28/03/2023 09:38

Have you got a link for that, @Ijustdontcare ?

My understanding (which may well be out of date) was that a sexual assault had to involve touching, including touching with an object.

If you intentionally expose your genitals, and you intend that someone will see them and be caused alarm or distress, you would be guilty of the criminal offence of exposure under s 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (SOA 2003). This carries a sentence of up to six months in prison or a fine on summary conviction, or imprisonment for up to two years on indictment.

Rosula · 28/03/2023 15:24

Shz · 27/03/2023 23:05

Non verbal does not equate to low intelligence, end of. You are making absolutely ridiculous (and insulting) assumptions about a person you do not know.

And people who are not autistic can also have low mental capacity, they too are not above the law.

Deeply deeply concerned that you appear to think an autism diagnosis equals being allowed to behave in ways that endanger others.

Diagnosis doesn’t mean any of us get to behave however we please without consequence. It just doesn’t

Yes, non-verbal doesn't automatically equate to low intelligence. But it's clearly not end of, and the issue anyway is not intelligence but mental capacity. You can lack capacity to make certain decisions or form intentions, but still be perfectly intelligent.

I don't think anyone is saying that an autism diagnosis means that you can behave as you please. But the simple reality is that IF someone with severe autism lacks capacity, then they may not be committing any criminal offence and you won't help people like OP's daughter by saying that they are. That equally doesn't mean that they should be left alone to do whatever they like; what it means is that those concerned should be going down a different route, whether it's by way of providing treatment, proper support and education, full time 1:1 care when they are out and about, sectioning them, or a combination of any of those.

onirgellep · 28/03/2023 15:08

Aerielview · 28/03/2023 12:01

@onirgellep
"Okay then a single episode of possible 'indecent exposure' as described by the OP wouldn't put this young person any where near the ballpark for those sort of assessments."

We don't know if it was a single episode or not. He could have done it before to other people. The op wouldn't necessarily be aware of that.

And for that reason I would have no hesitation in letting the relevant authorities know about this incident.

Well there's lots of things we don't know about this actual incident let alone your possible 'other episodes'

As it stands using only the OPs posts which seem to understand the young mans lack of clothes as part of his autism/sensory difficulties and therefore difficult to explain to her understandably frightened daughter

And leaving out all the posited sexual narrative for which there is no evidence from the OP - crucially no reportage of an erection/masturbation/past or present sexualised behaviours

It makes for a very different Safeguarding referral that would not trigger the sort of assessments being discussed leading to secure provision

If on the other hand the nakedness outside the home happens again/becomes persistent and/or sexual elements emerge then that's obviously a different matter

Rosula · 28/03/2023 15:04

Aerielview · 27/03/2023 19:32

@Rosula

  1. You don't have a right to "press charges".
Yes I do in the country I live in. The age of criminal responsibility is 12 here, but 10 for sexual offences, which is what this boy did - he committed the sexual offence of indecent exposure, and to a child, at that. Whether he knew what he was doing or not does not negate the fact that he committed a crime, and could rightfully have to face the legal consequences of that.
  1. "Going to the police has the potential of putting OP's daughter through, as a minimum, a lot of trouble and discussions which she might find embarrassing and difficult to handle."
Not as difficult or as embarrassing as having a naked male running towards her. She's 13. Imagine how frightened she felt.

You have no right to decide to press charges in your country in relation to an incident that happened in another country.

Unless your country has a principal of strict liability, I would seriously question whether this boy would be found to have committed a crime if he lacks the required mental capacity and/or is unable to form the required intent.

If this girl was frightened - and OP doesn't actually say she was - is it better that she spends time making a pointless complaint to the police which goes nowhere, or that the boy gets the proper support, care and possibly treatment so that long term there is no likelihood of recurrence? Even in the wildly unlikely event that he were to be locked up, it would be for a minimal time and she would still find herself living next door to him.

Dirtydiesel · 28/03/2023 15:00

"I don’t think those that demonstrate threatening behaviour that poses a risk to others should go without supervision or detainment if deemed necessary."

I have said in my posts that this is a safeguarding issue for all involved and given that he is known to be standing outside in his underwear, I would contact social services as this isn't ok for any teenager to be doing.

Rosula · 28/03/2023 14:55

whumpthereitis · 27/03/2023 19:14

She’s not in the UK. The poster you’re quoting would have the right to press charges.

The people best placed to ascertain his motivations, competency, and potential risks posed would be professionals. Professionals that would be called upon in the event of it being reported.

Merely talking to the mother may be the best way to resolve it, but equally it may not be. Not alerting the relevant authorities may mean that the behavior continues, escalates, and/or puts him in danger of retaliation.

the daughter may find dealing with the police distressing, but it’s entirely possible that she finds it less distressing than not reporting it.

OP’s responsibility is to her daughter. It is not to her neighbour or her neighbour’s son.

Its pointless talking about what you would do in another country if the incident in question happened in the UK. Even in other countries, I strongly suspect that the decision whether to take a case to court is not left solely to the decision of the purported victim's mum. And we do come back to the issue of whether this boy has in fact committed any offence at all, given the issue of whether he has capacity.