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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DD15 has been accused of assaulting another girl

225 replies

Inapickle5 · 03/09/2021 10:04

Morning all, not sure what I’m after here but here goes…

DD15 has been accused of assaulting another girl last night (call her Emily). The backstory is that DD had a boyfriend for around 6 months and they were together up until around 3 weeks ago. This boy is now seeing Emily who lives in the same village as us and understandably DD is very upset about it. It was her first boyfriend and DD also use to be friends with Emily. Anyway, we had a chat about it a couple of weeks ago and she seemed to be OK, spending a lot of time with her friends instead. I know that she’s been looking forward to going back to school to see some of her other friends that she’s not been able to visit during the holidays. I thought she was OK and over this boy as she hasn’t really spoken about him since the break up.

DD went out yesterday with a couple of her friends, her curfew is 10pm at the moment.
Around 8:30pm there was a knock on the door from Emily’s mum. We know each other as it’s a very small village and our families have grown up together. She was very upset and explained that DD had assaulted Emily, apparently grabbing her arm and leaving a mark/bruise, DD had also been rude to Emily’s mum. I didn’t really get the backstory from her as she was so flustered at the time and then left but did say that she would be logging it with the police. I immediately phoned DD and told her to come home. She’s explained her side of the story which matches up with some of the information that Emily’s mum gave me, but has denied putting her hands on Emily. There were some messages exchanged over Instagram between the two of them, calling each other names and arguing over this boy. Emily then said to DD “come up to my house and we will have it out here”. DD has shown me these messages.

DD then went up to the house and they both started arguing in the street. The boy was upstairs apparently. Emily’s mum then came out to see what was going on and told DD to go inside with them to talk about it. Two of DD friends stayed outside and waited for her. Emily’s mum started asking them questions as she didn’t know why they were fighting. At that point the girls starting arguing again and DD called Emily a “bitch” and so Emily’s mum told DD to get out. This is when DD apparently grabbed Emily by the arm and assaulted her. DD has a different story and has said that when she got up to leave Emily’s mum pushed DD out the front door.

DD has shown me a picture that Emily has put up in some group chat of her arm. I’ve taken DD’s phone off her for the time being so she cannot contact these people, but I’m really not sure what to do at this point. By no means is DD an angel and I will be having a serious chat with her at some point about all of this but I really don’t believe that she’s hurt Emily. She’s been truthful with me about all of the messages, swearing and admitted to calling Emily a nasty name but she’s still denying that she assaulted her. Ive not heard anything from the police or Emily’s mum but I don't want to contact Emily's mum and cause another argument. Should I give the police a ring myself and log it with them but explain what DD has told me? I don't want DD to be in trouble, believe me she's in enough trouble at home. I don't believe that Emily is an angel either and she was clearly winding DD up in the messages. They are both as bad as each other imo. I I just have no idea how to handle this situation and any advice would be appreciated...

OP posts:
Inapickle5 · 03/09/2021 10:05

Apologies for the very long winded post...

OP posts:
Planty13 · 03/09/2021 10:13

Why did she even go to this girls house if she wasn’t looking for a fight? Why would this girls mum lie?

You’re probably not going to get much more out of your DD at this point. I’d just sit tight now tbh

DuckDuckGooses · 03/09/2021 10:17

Are they really both as bad as each other if your DD has assaulted her and left marks?

IMO of course your DD will be honest about the things that can be easily proved (messages etc) and reluctant to be honest about assaulting her friend if she knows about potential police involvement! The oldest trick in the book is to be honest about a lot and lie about a little, for the exact reason you've given - if she's honest about one part surely she's honest about the rest.

I think your judgement is clouded - why would Emily's mum appear at your door to tell you about the assault if it was a lie? And why would her daughter have bruises?

SyIviescup · 03/09/2021 10:20

Do nothing. My Niece was battered, dragged around the hair by several girls and it was videoed. The police did nothing, the school did nothing also.

So I really doubt that they will do anything about a bruise on a arm.

Is this girl in your DDs school, because if she is I would actually have a work with pastoral care that this doesnt rumble through school as well.

FreeBritnee · 03/09/2021 10:24

I would do nothing. If the police appear do NOT give her side of the story. Never accept a caution. Always No comment.

Caramellatteplease · 03/09/2021 10:30

This is why you always take a second to a duel. Either your DD lied or she was thoroughly set up. You will probably never know the truth. You're probably best sitting tight and hoping for the best

shouldistop · 03/09/2021 10:30

Personally I'd probably believe the mum over a hot headed teenager that clearly went to the girls house for an argument/ fight. Were there marks on the girls arm in the picture? Do you think the mum made up the marks?

That said I'm not sure the police will do anything about a teenager grabbing someone's arm. Do not contact them yourself, that's crazy.
As a pp said always no comment, don't accept any cautions. If your daughter is invited to the police station get a lawyer.

And for Godsake tell your daft daughter to stay the hell away from this exactly daft girl. Does she really think some spotty teenage boy is worth getting into serious trouble over?

Inapickle5 · 03/09/2021 10:31

I have no idea what DD's intentions were. I've never known DD to be in a fight before and it's really not in her nature. She gets on with everyone normally and has a good group of friends. I'm not condoning what DD has done and the way she's spoken to Emily or her mum, but I do believe that Emily was winding her up on purpose, inviting her up to the house to argue etc. There is a bruise on Emily's arm near the wrist area. With it being on her wrist I have no idea what DD could have done to cause such a bruise, unless she literally gave her a Chinese burn or something to that affect Confused

I'm not accusing Emily's mum of lying, but I know DD was rude to her so maybe she's annoyed by that and wants to see DD in trouble...

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LemonFantaGin · 03/09/2021 10:31

Maybe the mum is trying to cover herself after pushing the DD out of the house 🤷🏽‍♀️

So this other girl was grabbed and assaulted and didn't retaliate at all? Your DD doesn't have marks?

Im not saying she isn't fibbing, just giving another side of what could have been.

Inapickle5 · 03/09/2021 10:35

@shouldistop unfortunately yes she does which I know is ridiculous!

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Inapickle5 · 03/09/2021 10:37

@LemonFantaGin apparently Emily was stood by the front door and as DD was leaving she grabbed her arm. As far as I know Emily did not retaliate and DD has no marks on her. DD has strongly denied this and said that it was Emily's mum who pushed her as she was walking out of the door...

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MummyOf4Kids · 03/09/2021 10:38

If it was me I'd do nothing and sit tight. Tell your DD to stay away from Emily and I'd be monitoring her social media and phone use too when she gets it back.
Emily may have been winding up your DD but your DD is also to blame for going to her house. If they attend the same school I'd also be having a word with the pastoral team or head of year to make them aware

LolaButt · 03/09/2021 10:41

Why would your daughter be grabbing the other girl as she was walking out the door?

Doesn’t make sense to me. Makes more sense that the mum has got a bit handy with your daughter and has then promptly shit herself as she knows she’s overstepped.

FannyBrice · 03/09/2021 10:41

I agree, sit on your hands, keep the phone and do not engage with the family at all
If the police do contact you do not accept a caution, this will follow her for life if you do, it takes you into serious grounds

Lordamighty · 03/09/2021 10:42

Your DD shouldn’t have gone to the girl’s house. They argued, she has marks on her arm, her DM said she assaulted her & had reported it to the police & yet you want to believe your DD is innocent?
Violence in not the correct response to people winding you up, it’s against the law for one thing.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 03/09/2021 10:44

You are actually accusing her mum of lying by saying she just wants to see your dd in trouble.

I think you have to suck it up thst your daughter is the kind to fight with other girls. Whether she assaulted this girl or not, she went to this girl's house looking for trouble.

I'd be having words about why the hell she is fighting over a boy. Teach her some self esteem fgs.

Ibizan · 03/09/2021 10:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FangsForTheMemory · 03/09/2021 10:45

You have no control over what Emily or her mother do. However I'd be grounding your DD for a month for being so foolish to have put herself in this situation and also to ensure it doesn't immediately go to Round 2. I'd also ask her what bothers her most: missing the boyfriend, or the loss of face because he's now going out with one of her friends?

MrsWhites · 03/09/2021 10:47

@LolaButt

Why would your daughter be grabbing the other girl as she was walking out the door?

Doesn’t make sense to me. Makes more sense that the mum has got a bit handy with your daughter and has then promptly shit herself as she knows she’s overstepped.

This would be my initial take on it too. I don’t know whether I would just let it go or whether I would drop Emily’s mum a message saying that you have spoken to your DD about her actions but that she does deny touching Emily but did mention that she was pushed herself - just to sort of mark her card. She was very silly to invite your DD in, what did she think was going to happen. She should have taken Emily back inside and tried to calm the situation not add to the argument.
Inapickle5 · 03/09/2021 10:48

I think so to but we are obviously in the minority here @LolaButt

@Lordamighty I absolutely agree with you that violence is not the answer and I can assure you that DD was not brought up that way. I'm cross with her for going up there and for even engaging with them in the first place. We've spoken a bit this morning and I've told her that I understand she's very upset and hurt about the boy but there are other ways to deal with those feelings. DD is not denying what she's done, the messages, name calling, arguing etc but she strongly denies that she touched Emily.

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MrsRobbieHart · 03/09/2021 10:48

Well the only alternative is that the girl put the marks on her own arm, or her mother did. Do you think that’s likely?

Leftphalange · 03/09/2021 10:48

To me it sounds like she's grabbed Emily's arm out the way so she can get out the house. If she wanted to assault her she would have slapped her or something instead.

FreeBritnee · 03/09/2021 10:50

Dont be writing anything to the woman who is planning or already has contacted the police!! Those texts will form part of a potential case.

FreeBritnee · 03/09/2021 10:50

Plus I would get this thread deleted directly you have enough info to hell you.

MrsRobbieHart · 03/09/2021 10:51

@LolaButt

Why would your daughter be grabbing the other girl as she was walking out the door?

Doesn’t make sense to me. Makes more sense that the mum has got a bit handy with your daughter and has then promptly shit herself as she knows she’s overstepped.

Actually it makes more sense to me that Emily was mouthing off at DD as she was leaving, DD turned and went for her and Emily’s mother had to step in and push DD to get her off her daughter.