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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:
Daubergine · 17/03/2019 14:08

Was this you op?

Summergarden · 17/03/2019 14:08

Sorry this happened to you, it must have felt awful to have the police turn up like that. As others have reassured you, there’s no way you’ll go to prison or anything like that. I’m sure as soon. As they spoke to you they realised all was fine.

I agree that someone in their circle is friendly with a police officer. Hard to believe that something like this would be deemed worthy of a police car and 2 officers... what a waste of resources.

Try to relax and not worry OP. People who don’t suffer from anxiety don’t get how frightening and stressful something like this can be, but I do.

Whisky2014 · 17/03/2019 14:08

Ok well i reported anyway for mnhq to check.

ColdCottage · 17/03/2019 14:08

This does seem very odd and very stressful for you. I hope you get it sorted quickly and without any further stress.

cheeseypizza · 17/03/2019 14:08

IF this is real. I reckon you did hit the car and now your bricking it. What kind of vehicle op?

DarlingNikita · 17/03/2019 14:09

Well done for calling them, OP. I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it.

Those sneering at the OP for being upset, not doing something different etc, give the fuck over. She's got anxiety and she doesn't need any more shit.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 14:10

Thank you for the supportive messages. I’m a bit anxious about driving anyway so this has really affected me

OP posts:
amicissimma · 17/03/2019 14:11

I was once sitting in my car outside school, waiting for some event to finish, engine off, handbrake on, listening to the radio. In due course a car pulled up behind me, parking to collect DC, I assumed. The driver got out and started hammering on my window. I opened it a little and he started ranting at me that I'd hit his car while I was parking. I calmly pointed out that I'd done no such thing, but he wasn't having it. When he eventually returned to his car, after some minutes of yelling at my now closed window, I got out and photographed his, unscathed, car. He yelled to ask me what I was doing and I said I was collecting evidence in case of a fraudulent claim against me, jumped swiftly back into my car and locked the doors. He swore a lot and drove off.

It's your word against the man's. If you're pretty confident you didn't hit another vehicle, then stick to your guns. Your defence to not reporting an accident is that you weren't aware you'd had one! No problem with not stopping - you did. In fact, you gave the guy the benefit of the doubt and left a note so that the driver's insurance and yours could argue it out, even though you didn't think you'd hit anything.

But it all sounds odd. If it wasn't his car, why didn't he leave his own note for the owner when you left? Why would the police come to the car park? If they have your registration number they can contact you at home.

I doubt you'll hear any more from the police - it's not on the public highway, you swear you didn't drive off, you swear you left your details (they can call you to get your address and insurance). If you stick to that, a magistrate will wonder why it's been taken to court. If the guy suddenly turns up with a whole lot more witnesses you can point out that you didn't see them around at the time. It all sounds very suspicious and if you do hear from the police it may be that they are looking into that angle - that they are looking into repeated reports of 'accidents' where the 'driver' wasn't aware.

WallisFrizz · 17/03/2019 14:11

You clearly must have damaged the car.

If your details were on the paper, why did the owner not contact you.

I agree with the pp that said both the texts to your husband and this whole thread is to support your “innocence”. When in all reality, the most likely truth is that you reversed into another car and didn’t leave your details.

Iamtheworst · 17/03/2019 14:11

The exact same thing happened to me! Except it was a supermarket and they turned up at my house 2 weeks later.

They openly said they hoped to find an unliscenced or uninsured driver cause I was young looking (22). And that the helpful (extremely aggressive) stranger was a policeman. My dad reemed them asking if they’d checked the carpark cctv and took all their details and they were out as fast as they came in.

Honestly I have front and rear dash cams and over 10 years I have said 3 times “that’s fine I’ve got my dash cam footage the police will sort it from there” and 3 times there’s not been another peep. Last time was a couple of weeks ago when I was accused of side swiping an Audi (which was damaged) but I certainly wasn’t responsible. My car is a beat up old wreck so gets blamed a lot. the Audi owner was accusing me of all sorts and dragging strangers off the street to agree. My kid was crying his kid was crying. Dash cam saved the day.

spugzbunny · 17/03/2019 14:13

This happened to a friend of mine. She was accused of hitting a car in a car park and a letter was sent to address saying she was being investigated for 3 offences including, not reporting an accident and fleeing the scene or something like that.

She could prove she was parked at the time of the accident and obtained cctv which proved this. The police said that they were just gathering evidence and as they had none against her the charges were obviously dropped.

NicoAndTheNiners · 17/03/2019 14:13

I also thought someone here is connected to the cops.

Someone hit my car at speed, bad damage and drove off. I chased them for 3 miles before they pull in. initially admitted it, then following day said damage on my car was already there. Then blocked my mobile. Cops weren't interested

VladmirsPoutine · 17/03/2019 14:14

OP, are you generally of a nervous and anxious disposition because your reaction to this seems so over the top as to be quite unhealthy in every respect.

TeddTess · 17/03/2019 14:15

You really would have known if you had hit a car, no matter how slowly. You would have left a thud.

It all does seem quite dodgy.

If i were you i would start to get angry and insist you didn't hit anything! Unless there is CCTV they can't prove it.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 14:15

I hardly think I would post a thread here now in the hope it would help me in court. I can just imagine the judge’s face when I whipped out a Mumsnet thread I had started after I had been questioned Hmm

OP posts:
cheeseypizza · 17/03/2019 14:17

With seeing the way you have reacted to this while Incident, I wouldn't be surprised. You are either completely naive or lack common sense.

cheeseypizza · 17/03/2019 14:17

Whole*

Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 14:18

Or maybe I was just panicked in the moment and then again when 2 police turn up out of nowhere. Not my finest hour admittedly but people make stupid decisions under stress

OP posts:
Whisky2014 · 17/03/2019 14:19

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Tilikum · 17/03/2019 14:21

Wow, the vipers are out in force today. Hmm

Try not to worry too much OP. As previous posters have said, you didn't know you were in an accident and it sounds like a weird scam. Two policemen to accost you at children's netball practice! Ridiculous waste of resources.

SparklyMagpie · 17/03/2019 14:23

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Original poster
Worriedmummy2 · 17/03/2019 14:24

I phoned 101 when someone first suggested it, was on hold for a while then spoke to someone. I honestly can’t fathom why this thread is so suspicious. I’ve answered everything I could butx honestly, it’s just making me more upset now. Thank you to anyone who offered advice. I will wait for the officer to ring me back.

OP posts:
cheeseypizza · 17/03/2019 14:25

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pinkgloves · 17/03/2019 14:25

Some of you really are unpleasant.

I'd have panicked too op. Must be hard be so perfect like all the good people on this thread. Hmm

Also, troll hunting isn't allowed. There's a report function, use it. Like I just did with your troll hunty posts.

ShagMeRiggins · 17/03/2019 14:25

Isn’t troll hunting against MN guidelines? Confused