Adult charged after slapping my autistic son, what happens now?

[Lisa121888Marie]

Hello, would be greatful for some advice please. My 11yr old son was slapped around the face by a 22yr old adult. I called the police and statements were taken both sides. She attended court for assault by beating and pleaded not guilty, and was put on bail until a trial date is set. My son is autistic and suffering with anxiety now. Is she likely to get away with this? I am struggling to understand how she can think its normal to slap a child. There were no witnesses, apart from the fact she admitted to both myself and my sons dad that she slapped him in the face. However she has pleaded not guilty.

Yep ..I’ve read the thread and agree.

If the woman had been charged then there must be concern about her conduct as a caution would have been available too. Even to have been arrested will mean this violent offence will show on any DBS if this woman applies to work with children etc..

DS is vulnerable and people who know the case have decided this by offering special measures..DS is vulnerable by virtue of his age and any disabilities.

The Witness Service at court used to offer visits to witnesses if you feel this would help OP? What an awful thing to happen to you as a child. Try and tell you son that the authorities have decided it matters and was wrong..because they have.

It might be the case that nothing happens. My friend’s abusive ex head butted a ten year old, there were loads of witnesses but nothing came of it.

ARe you serious? You think people who assault vulnerable children are the victims here if they're held to account?

I know of someone who hit his own child. Lots of domestic violence against the mother but this was the first time he had hit the child. He admitted to it and got a caution for battery of a minor. No real impact on his life as far as I know, the caution stays on database and would come up if they did a DBS check.

You've at least provided more context now as to the nature of the setting they were both in.
You've still avoiding the question though which is what are your sons version of events?
What caused a 22yr old yo just randomly come up to your son and slap him across the face?
Without this detail it is very hard to provide further advice.
You are coming across as very defensive and not giving a full insight into the situation.

You aren’t concerned this is incredibly outing and may derail the legal process @Lisa121888Marie ?

She a grown woman attacked an 11 year old child and deserves everything that she is going through and yes she 100%deserves a criminal record for it.

Honestly im surprised that so many people on this thread are trying to minimise what she did or excuse it

To say they’ll be more to this and a huge messy unhappy backstory would be an epic understatement I reckon

OP has asked a question. She’s not asking us to determine if the perp is guilty. She’s asking what happens when this goes to court.

shes asking from her perspective quite obviously and hasn’t asked from the perps perspective

Have there been any physical situations previously between your son and the sisters? If you've felt the need to separate them that indicates a significant back story. How old are the sisters?

Being autistic and needing reasonable adjustments is nothing like a child abuser needing or wanting another chance after attacking an 11 year old

Whatever happens it will remain on her police file. My son was arrested but no charge (he actually didn't do anything wrong) but it remains on his file and he has had to explain about the incident when applying to emigrate.

Have you not been told not to discuss the case now its sub judice?

She may be found guilty. Or she may not. None of us can say as we don’t have her version of events and you can’t definitively say what happened coz you didn’t see it.

Why did she slap him? If this has been answered I apologise. But why? Also and I am genuinly asking this . I edited to ask .. what has your son being autistic god to do with it? I feel like I’ve read through it all and I’m not sure and I think I’ve missed a post somewhere

OP said because he kicked the football back to her sisters

You say she’s mace threats before - do you have any physical evidence of this?
If so you need to show the police.

Why is she threatening to beat him up?

I know people who have done much worse and not gotten a criminal record over it and so I think you should be prepared.

Most judges believe that the threat of almost being charged is enough to not let it happen again (which often is the case).

You say your son actually live there and so this is likely going to be a case of just staying away from each other.

I think if she’s required to stay away from your son but he goes over to her area - then you can’t stop her from being in her own area.

You also need to be careful that the judge doesn’t impose anything to make them stay away from each other (which I can’t even see happening tbh) because that may make it difficult for your son to visit his nan and grandad.

It's really out of your hands now. You've made statements and she's been charged. The wheels of justice turn slowly, and you can't really expect any particular outcome.

If the offence was based at all on your son's disability (assuming you have a diagnosis) the prosecution could add a hate crime element to the charge.

What you need to do is forget about it and let things fall as they may.

Thank you, sorry I genuinely missed that

Has SS been fairly extensively involved with your family @Lisa121888Marie ?

So you think it’s okay for an adult to hit a child? Really? I think you seem like the terrible person, not OP.

Slapping someone in the face is so vicious. I am really sorry that this happened to your son. I hope she is punished. Even if not, at least she is being dragged through the court system.

I can't imagine slapping anyone in the face, let alone a CHILD! If an adult had done something so awful to me that I felt like hitting them, I would ice them out, not actually hit them. And I can conceive of no circumstances that would make me hit a child. IN THE FACE!

She could claim that the red mark was left by the ball hitting him in the face if there were no witnesses and no evidence of finger marks. Obviously without seeing the photo, I don't know what the mark looked like but surely it's a possibility if it was kicked hard enough.

But she told the OP and the son’s dad that she did it. As did the son.

of course she could claim it

Agree with this. Why leave him alone, without you watching him?

I wouldn't get your hopes up for any real punishment for a unwitnessed slap. The fact she admitted it to you and his dad doesn't really mean anything - she'll deny she said that and claim you are both making it up. If she has any existing criminal record, you might have more chance, but even if she's found guilty it's likely to just be a fine and told to keep away from him. However without any witnesses it's going to be her word against his. I assume there's no CCTV in the communal area or that overlooked it anywhere?