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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I have just been charged by the police and not know what to do next

366 replies

Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 13:01

This morning I was at netball club with my young daughter when 2 police officers turned up and asked to speak to me. I was panic stricken as I thought something had happened to my husband and son.

They took me a short distance away from everyone and read me my rights. I think I went into shock at the point and have difficulty recalling what was said next.

I all revolves around an incident 2 weeks ago at the same club. The carpark is always busy as a netball and football club is on at the same time. I had trouble getting into a space and tried to edge in really slowly. I was literally going so slowly the speed wasn’t even registering. I was struggling to get in and a space opened up right behind me so I parked there instead. A man then walked up to my window and said ‘you just hit that car’. I replied that I don’t think I hit anything, I didn’t feel anything and was watching very carefully. I also have back sensors which did not go off at all. The man then got aggressive and kept stating that I hit another car. My 6 year old daughter was with me and was getting upset. I said ok I will leave a note.

I then found the only scrappy bit of paper in the car that I could and wrote my mobile on it. I waited until the man walked away as I felt unsafe then went over to the car which I presumed was the one he meant. I could see no damage and there was no damage to my car. Nevertheless I put my phone number under the wiper. I didn’t write on it ‘I got your car’ or anything as I honestly don’t believe I did.

Fast forward 2 weeks and the police turn up. They gave me a list of offences - I think there were 3 and I think one was failing to stop and failing to report an accident. They said Aggressive man told the owner of the car that I had just left a blank piece of paper on the car but that he had my details. I explained what had actually happened I think but, to be honest, I was so stressed I imagine it was pretty jumbled. I’m just in disbelief. Why on earth would anyone leave a blank piece of paper when you go there every week, someone has taken a picture of your car etc.

I even showed them texts I sent to my husband 10 minutes later about what had happened and how I had left my details. I said in the text, I don’t think I hit them but they’ll probably try to claim for everything now so that will be our insurance going up.

The police read the texts, made a note of everything I had said and said they would investigate more. Have I been charged? Do I need a solicitor? What should I do next? My anxiety is through the roof after reading those charges can mean 6 months in prison. Haven’t stopped crying all day.

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 13:18

I just left my number on the windscreen and went home shaken up. No way was I going to go over to the football dads (many of whom are quite aggressive over parking at the best of times) I had my little daughter with me. I now realised I should have phoned the police or something but would have felt a bit of a fool as I honestly don’t think I hit anything at all.

OP posts:
Littlechocola · 17/03/2019 13:20

Have you seen the aggressive man before?

Mememeplease · 17/03/2019 13:22

Do you know the blokes name? And the name of the owner of the car supposedly hit?

noenergy · 17/03/2019 13:23

Sounds very dodgy. U would have known u had hit the car.
Could it b that he had bit the other car and is looking for someone to blame?

Mememeplease · 17/03/2019 13:23

Is the car reg the same as the car you saw and the car supposedly hit?

Buster72 · 17/03/2019 13:23

You are obliged to leave your name and address , not just a telephone number, but don't worry you can surely prove you made the effort, in any respect you should report to police within 24 hours.
I wouldn't worry about any consequences though unlikely police will take thus further. You must live in a quiet area if cops have time to follow thus up with an appearance

burgundyjumper · 17/03/2019 13:23

Aggressive man, a shunt in a car park that didn't happen, with invisible damage = insurance scam to me.

LarryGreysonsDoor · 17/03/2019 13:24

It does seem odd what is and isn't considered a good use of police time.

I'm surprised that the police are even interested in what seems to be a slight dink in a car park.

Auramigraine · 17/03/2019 13:25

Poor you OP, that man sounds an utter asshole... I know it’s hard but please, please try not to worry. You have proof on your texts of leaving details, anyone sane would think why would you leave a blank piece of paper instead of nothing at all, it doesn’t even make sense, surely you would have just waited until he had gone and left nothing on the wiper if you were gonna do that!! The police just have to follow through with the complaint, I really don’t think you have anything to be concerned about and you certainly will not go prison!! I would be taking my husband to the club next week with me to see if this man has anything to say to you again. X

Hotterthanahotthing · 17/03/2019 13:25

Very dodgy.My car brake failed and I drifted into another car(we found after we returned from a walk).It did cause damage and I left details on the windscreen and took pictures of the cars and damage to other car,my car didn't have a scratch.
I got a call from my insurers,no police.
Did you take pictures?Did you note the other cars reg?
If the owner of the car had had damage the his insurance would be dealing with it not the police.

BigusBumus · 17/03/2019 13:26

Does the club have any CCTV of the car park you could get hold of?

Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 13:29

I had never seen the man before and I have no details of him or the owner of the car.

I did think that maybe I put the note on the wrong car as I presumed it was the one I was closest too when trying to get in the space. But why then would aggressive man say I left a blank note rather than no note? Same if the note had blown away. I can’t get my head around it.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 17/03/2019 13:30

I wonder if you have been scammed, and how the heck did the police know where you were at that moment??

Auramigraine · 17/03/2019 13:31

Ask the club if they have any CCTV, did this man have any children with him? Was he there for a child? I wonder if anyone else is aware of him, he could well be dodgy.

burgundyjumper · 17/03/2019 13:32

You haven't been charged, it is just a caution and legally they have to do that if they are going to formally ask you any questions about anything you may have been involved in.

Auramigraine · 17/03/2019 13:33

And the man obviously didn’t walk off far if he went back to check and saw your ‘blank’ note. I would be asking around in the club with his description, could be a chancer trying to make a quick bit of money with insurance claim etc.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 13:35

It just seems very odd to me. What would make a person go and check if someone was leaving a blank note on a window.

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 13:37

Thank you for telling me I haven’t been charged. It just all sounded very formal and scary. Is there a timescale to what will happen next. I can’t function at the moment and can’t bear to think of this hanging over me for months. We’re going on holiday in 3 weeks before my daughter has an operation and I’m just worried that we will have to cancel that now if I have to go to court or something. She would be devastated

OP posts:
Mememeplease · 17/03/2019 13:38

Check that the car you supposedly hit was the same colour and make of the cars parked next to you.

I think the man had damaged his own car earlier in the day and was trying to blame you to claim off you. Involving the police will mean that he doesn't have to claim off his own insurance.

VladmirsPoutine · 17/03/2019 13:38

This sounds all very bizarre. Do you think this is some sort of weird ruse cooked up by aggressive man on the make i.e. insurance claim? If so then how do you explain the police?
I'd do as advised above and contact your local force if for nothing then peace of mind.

LIZS · 17/03/2019 13:39

Is it a private car park or public land? Did you see or take pictures of alleged damage? I doubt you will hear any more about it.

Mememeplease · 17/03/2019 13:40

May be he only has 3rd party insurance and can't claim off his own.

YesThisIsMe · 17/03/2019 13:40

Not unheard of to get a call from the cops. DH hit a car in a car park at a service station once: left a note with our number on. We didn’t hear anything back for weeks and then suddenly I got a call from the police. The car owner had misread DH’s handwriting, rung a non-existing number, then reported the incident to the police (presumably his insurers had asked for that), and the traffic cop had taken a second look at the note and thought “maybe that’s an 8 not a 6, let’s give that a go”.

DullPortraits · 17/03/2019 13:40

You honestly have nothing to worry about.. near where i live someone recently crashed in to the front of a building totally destroying property and a business, they fled the scene to be later caught by police... no charges at all so the fact you at most tapped another vehicle with yours leaving no damage at all makes you pretty safe from charge I would say x

cheeseypizza · 17/03/2019 13:42

Surely there's more to this story?

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