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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Man took picture of dd's breasts

181 replies

WildBelle · 30/04/2017 15:44

Yesterday dd (12) and her friend went to a large event. It was at a hotel right next to a shopping centre. In theory under 16s were meant to have an adult with them, so I was prepared that I might have to stay, but when we got there no one on the desk said anything about them needing an adult with them, and most people there seemed to be under 16 with no adults in their group. Dd1 is at the age where hanging around with her mum is really not cool so she wanted me to go, and dd2 would have been a massive, whinging pain in the arse if we'd stayed so it kind of suited everyone.

So I took dd2 for lunch and a wander around the shops in the shopping centre right next to the hotel. After a couple of hours dd2 phoned to say they'd had enough and wanted to leave, so we walked back over and met them.

On the way home, dd and her friend told me about a man coming up to them when they were at the event and asked to take a picture or dd (she was dressed up as a character and did look pretty cool). She agreed, but instead of using the proper camera he had with him, got his Iphone out and zoomed right in on dd's breasts (she is very blessed in that department), and took a picture. They found it quite funny but I was pretty shocked. He'd given them the impression that he was taking pictures on behalf of the event, although of course he could have just been saying that.

Dd's friend was chatting to another friend they'd met up with at the event last night and apparently this guy had done similar to other girls too.

I am tempted to contact the event about it but don't know what they can do, and they will probably just say that as dd is under 16 she was supposed to have an adult with her. But a grown man going around taking pictures of a 12 year old's cleavage isn't ok is it?

OP posts:
SlowLifeLove · 30/04/2017 16:57

I really don't think I am wrong, not if he focused on her breasts. And particularly not if she thought she was consenting to an innocuous photograph rather than a cleavage shot.

SlowLifeLove · 30/04/2017 16:58

@wildbelle the police will let you know - report it and let them decide.

elevenclips · 30/04/2017 17:02

Hopefully someone will come along who knows whether the photo is criminal. SlowLifeLove, I'm not sure that it's the same as an upskirt shot. Perhaps if he put the camera above her shoulder and pointed it directly downwards (i.e. To see inside her top) it would be similar to the upskirt but if he was standing opposite her and snapped a photo looking straight on then it it isn't the same as an upskirt shot (imo and op I a not an expert, although I have read re esafety).

elevenclips · 30/04/2017 17:02

Yes the police will know that's a good idea to just report

WildBelle · 30/04/2017 17:04

Ok. I will give dd's friend a call and see if she can give me any kind of description at all, then I'll report it.

OP posts:
SlowLifeLove · 30/04/2017 17:06

@wildbelle - it may be better to report now, and let the police deal with getting descriptions.That's how evidence is secured. It's their job and they have special officers to interview children with skill sets you may not have. You need to report quickly though as CCTV can often re-record over events.

SlowLifeLove · 30/04/2017 17:07

@elevenclips - I don't know, I am imaging huge cleavage and him going downwards? But, I wasn't there so I really don't know - the police will know.

I just googled and read a step-father was charged for a similar photograph, but it was in their home so maybe different?

Trifleorbust · 30/04/2017 17:08

Does it matter how old he thought she was? FFS.

WildBelle · 30/04/2017 17:08

Can't get hold of dd's friend so will just call the police. Just spoken to dd about it again and she said that this guy actually said he was taking photos for the website.

OP posts:
VerySadInside · 30/04/2017 17:13

I think social anxiety and naivety can actually make her more vulnerable. Maybe you need to have a good talk with her about how to avoid situations that might not be acceptable. Not that any of this was her fault or yours but maybe she isn't actually aware of how bad this is if her and friend where laughing about it.

I am not sure the photographer creep would even believe he had done anything wrong, he would have assumed them over 16 and did ask permission for the photo.

HappyAxolotl · 30/04/2017 17:13

My geek pal and his group often go to cons and he tells me that they spend quite a lot of each one quietly telling creepy guys with cameras that they think a young girl/woman in cosplay needs to be left alone. They are big men so this approach does send the creeps scuttling off without argument.

It makes them furious though as the nerd world tries to be an accepting one and it seems quite a high percentage of nerdy types have SNs or just plain poor social calibration so a lot of unusual behaviour is given a free pass, which is definitely a good thing. However the community does seem to also attract a lot of "missing stairs" whose creepiness also goes unchallenged.

They do wish there was an easy solution to making cons safer for women and girls but apart from the decent men stepping up when they see a woman looking uncomfortable in a situation that is already happening to her, and asking security to fling oot the obvious creeps, again, once they have already been seen being creepy and their target has already had a negative experience at the event, what else can be done?

Freddystarshamster · 30/04/2017 17:17

It wouldn't be illegal even if she DIDN'T consent. By all means call the police. They might make an Intel report, but for the circumstances described in the OP no offences have been committed

Almahart · 30/04/2017 17:29

I'm glad you've contacted the police OP as my guess is that he will have been doing this to others too, so it may fit a bigger picture

Tiredperson · 30/04/2017 17:30

I do think gaming communities need to grow up too in this regard - they are pretty sexist worlds even if they are also nerdy - with cleavage in every woman in every game that exists as far as I can tell!

So I think the culture does need challenging.

RandomDent · 30/04/2017 17:33

It doesn't matter if the actual picture taking isn't an offence, he might be known to the police and jigsaw pieces can all help. Glad your daughter is ok, and I can see you have lots to think about.

notanurse2017 · 30/04/2017 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShelaghTurner · 30/04/2017 17:38

So is it ok to go up to a 16 year old in a vest top and take a close up of her breasts? I'm 45 and would be pretty pissed off if some creep tried to photograph mine. Difference is that I'd have the nous to tell him to eff off.

joannegrady90 · 30/04/2017 17:39

Why didn't you go after him?! I'd of chased the bastard and took the phone off him 😠

But no just complain on netmums whilst he's doing god knows what with that photo!

SlowLifeLove · 30/04/2017 17:41

@joannegrady90 I guess you didn't read the original post, or any of the rest of the thread.

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 30/04/2017 17:43

Hideous behaviour from the man. But OP - you are perpetuating the problem by describing your 12 year old child as being "blessed in that department". Her own mother is sexualising her.

notanurse2017 · 30/04/2017 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/04/2017 17:47

Never mind that, @joannegrady90 doesn't even know what website they are on!

For those criticising the OP for not staying at the event - this man must have targeted the OP's dd, so unless she had stayed glued to her dd's side all day, which would have spoiled her dd's enjoyment of the event, the man could have waited until the OP was elsewhere to approach her dd. Or he would simply have targeted another young girl.

I'm glad you are reporting this, OP - and glad that it doesn't seem to have upset your dd too much. I don't think you did anything wrong in letting your dd and her friend go to this event without you.

Chippednailvarnishing · 30/04/2017 17:47

Agree with salt.

muckypup73 · 30/04/2017 17:49

Op you said (she has crippling social anxiety as part of her ASD and won't even buy something in a shop on her own,)

Why on earth would you leave her unatended at a large event?

joannegrady90 · 30/04/2017 17:49

Of course I've read it!

I know about gaming events etc I just think op should of done something about it at the time.

An opinion that's all..

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