to think I shouldn't be persecuted for this

[uimo]

Me and my brother went to the cinema on Wednesday night, after the showing I drove home whilst he walked home, he only lives a mile and a half away. On the way home he was attacked and mugged, he's ok but got punched in the stomach a couple of times and had his wallet and phone stolen. I didn't offer to give him a lift home and now I'm getting no end of abuse from the rest of my family, my sister in particulary who has texted me saying "couldn't even spare 5 mins to ensure your brother got home safe, some big sister you are" and she just phoned me and given me a 5 minute tirade about how I'm such a disgrace.

I admit it was 11ish and he is only 15 and I should have offered him a lift home and had I known what would have happened I would have. The thing is he didn't ask for one and although me and him go regularly it is normally during the day so he just walks back so I didn't think. I'm very sorry and annoyed with myself for not giving him one but I feel like I'm being treated like I was the one who mugged him.

They're just - understandably - upset about what happened to him and they're lashing out.

You've all learned a valuable lesson. Your family will calm down. Hope he's ok!

If it had been your sister out with him in this situation, how would you have reacted?

Hope he makes a good recovery.

Obviously it's the fault of the bastard who mugged him that he was mugged.

But really I think you were being very unreasonable indeed to leave him to walk home at 11 when you had a car and it was a short journey.

Hope your DB is ok, I've been mugged walking home at night and it had a really huge impact on my mental health.

YABU you left a 15yo to walk home alone at past 11pm at night , whilst you obviously didn't attack him you were highly neglient and saying you didn't think doesn't excuse it to be honest. You are going to have to face the music, however I doubt that they will be annoyed with you for a long time.

Why didn't you offer a lift for the 5 minute journey it would have been?

Sorry but you should of given him a lift, he is 15 and it was very late.

i can understand why they feel like that. i'm pretty shocked that you just "didn't think" to offer him a lift home!

You are not responsible for the evil that others do. Repeat.

It could have happened anywhere and at any time. It's been over 20 years since I was 15 but I do remember getting myself home from the cinema on my own.

You probably deserve some of the censure you are getting. It was late you should have given him a ride, especially if it was close.

I'm sorry. The shock of this must be terrible for you all. It is shocking to me that anyone would let a 15 year old walk 1½ miles at 11pm.

You need to accept that you made an error of judgement, apologise profusely, then make sure that you learn from your mistake. All of us make errors of judgement, and the difference between the winners and the losers is that the winners learn from their mistakes.

YABVU they have every right to be fuming with you, you have behaved appalling and your excuses that he didn't ask and you didn't think are pathetic. In what world should a 15yo walk a mile and a half home alone at 11 o'clock at night.

He is 15 and you didn't offer him a lift.
I would be fuming with you to be honest.

YABU and I would be reacting the same way as your sister. He is 15 and it was 11pm you have a car and it would have taken 5 minutes to drop him off safely I'm shocked the thought didn't enter your head. Hope your poor brother is OK.

Hope your brothers ok.
I am surprised you didn't think to offer, never mind the time of night or his age but I would do it automatically. At the same time he could have asked for a lift!
But you can't do anything about it now so live and learn as they say...

Agree that you should have offered a lift. surely it was dark, did it really not go through your mind to offer?

My brother is in his late 30s. I cannot conceive of a situation where I wouldn't drive him home without even thinking about it. He wouldn't need to ask. I wouldn't leave anyone to walk a mile and a half home at 11pm if I could give them a lift, let alone a 15 year old boy who means a lot to me.

Yabu you should have taken him home

YABU, as missymoomoomee said!

YANBU you made a mistake and unfortunately your brother suffered but sending nasty texts and phone calls doesn't help anyone. Do they really think you meant for him to get mugged.

You made a mistake, but its not your fault he got attacked.

If he didnt get attacked then would they be fuming with you then? If yes, then theyre rightly cross now, if no, well then its unfair as theyre fuming at you because he got attacked- you played no part in the attacking.

mogandme- It just didn't occur to me, I have no idea why

At 15 he's grand to be walking home alone. Unfortunate he got mugged the time you could have given him a lift home but it could have happened at any time

I think it's bizarre that anyone would jump in their car and drive off, leaving anyone to walk home without offering a lift tbh. It baffles me that anyone would do that. The fact that it was late and he is only 15 means you should have not just offered but insisted on seeing him safely home.

My DMum is keen on walking and often refuses lifts in favour of walking places (she doesn't have a car herself). So I could understand if you were both adults and you regularly met in that location and then had to get home afterwards at that time of night and the other person always refused a lift home - not everyone wants a lift and an adult can decide for themselves what risks to take. But he is a minor and you didn't even offer! It beggars belief really.

I'm not sure I agree that you should be 'persecuted' and blamed for the actions of a criminal, but I think you were selfish, irresponsible and thoughtless and it's fair enough that your family tell you so.