DS threw bully’s phone in lake

I can see how this happened. The girl filming will have been the only person he could have felt less powerless with as his books had already gone, but she had something he could grab in recompense.
Also just watching her filming and her enjoying his humiliation will have been distressing and enraging for him.

It's very sad that the phone fell into the lake while your son was trying to stop the girl recording him. Total accident but she should have been more careful really

If he stood up to the bullies, the video would have continued and they would have got more entertainment out of it. Better to snatch someone’s phone and spoil their fun/end the video.

I'd want to know the details. It's interesting that he didn't stand up to the boy bully (or the girl bully) but stole another girl's phone. I agree that the whole thing is a school matter. Although if I was the parent of the girl I would be going to the Police.

As if the police didn't have enough to do.

No, your son did the right thing in the situation

How do you know he has no money? I think parents should be responsible for their children's actions anyway. He's not 5 he's 13.

If that’s the case then, the girl’s parents should hand themselves in at the police station and take responsibility for their daughter harassing, intimidating and assaulting OP’s son.

Report the harassment and violence to the police.

Karma. Good on your DS!

Why is it schools problem!

They will just say don't allow them to have phones.

School don't even have time to teach these days.

Don't respond to the mother, all comms through school.

I suspect there are three forms of the truth here.

I personally would not be inviting anyone to involve the police. It sounds like there were 4 of them and your son, so witness evidence probably wouldn't be favourable. Whilst they would be unlikely to take any action over this, it could still cause a lot of stress for everyone.

I wouldn't respond further to the mother either. Don't admit to anything.

Contact the school and let them know about the bullying. Advise your son not to take other people's (very expensive!) things. Hopefully the mother has insurance for the phone and will just sort it that way.

First, I'd contact the school and report the bullying reported by your son.

Then, I'd probably say something like: I understand there was some form of incident and the account I've received is concerning in relation to bullying behaviours. I think this should be investigated through (school's) bullying policy in the first instance. Once that's been completed, I'd be happy to discuss any outstanding issues.

(No admissions of responsibility, no offer of repayment).

The truth needs to be ascertained before anyone goes forking out hundreds of pounds for a new phone.

I hate these little shits who get their phones out to film this sort of stuff

My ds was beaten up by a group of kids after school and a few people filmed it, thick as fuck and deserve to have their phones thrown in a lake imo

She hit him after the fact.

Good for him!

She didn’t assault him though. And bullying is sadly not a crime.

Even if he has money they can't take it. Do you think they'll raid his piggy bank?

'Should' is neither here nor there, parents aren't responsible according to the law.

How do you know he has no money? I think parents should be responsible for their children's actions anyway. He's not 5 he's 13.

They can apparently be liable for their own negligence in failing to supervise or teach their children. Like (I would think) telling them you don't deliberately destroy other people's property.

I'd be inclined to reply that they are welcome to report to the police and your son will happily give his account of how she assaulted him. Call their bluff.

I will start by saying that my ds was bullied very badly. I do think that she deserved to have her phone thrown in the lake and I understand exactly what bullying does to people.

However. Unfortunately he’s thrown an expensive piece of someone else’s property into a lake. There is no evidence of the bullying. But there is plenty of evidence that your ds threw the phone in the lake - he’s admitted it, for a start and they saw it and the phone is missing. They could reasonably involve the police and your ds could be done for committing a crime. Bullying, even if admitted (very unlikely) is sadly not a crime.

The law is always on the side of bastards basically.

in your position, I would replace the phone and smooth things over with the girl’s mother. Who is probably also a bully.

we’re fucked as a society.

I think all bullying is abhorrent, and what these young people did to your son is dreadful, but he lowered himself to their standards by throwing the phone in the lake, and has made himself vulnerable to repercussions, both from the Police/insurers of the phone, but more importantly to the group of young people who were involved.

Especially if their child is being a disgusting little bully, like this girl was.

If I was the girl’s mum I think the penny would be dropping by now what my daughter was up to.

How will they come after they boy? He has no money. And parents aren't liable for the damage done by their children.

I wouldn't be speaking to any of these parents directly or texting, block them and go through the school. Also tell your DS to avoid them as much as possible.