Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that someone stopping a pervert shouldn’t have a criminal record?

37 replies

CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 15:22

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dad-heart-gold-knocked-out-35544209.amp

“Dad with 'heart of gold' knocked out man who was exposing himself to families

Richard Gathercole, 39, has been convicted of assault after knocking out a man who was exposing himself on a street in front of families with a single punch“

AIBU to think that this brave man shouldn’t have a criminal record and two year suspended sentence? He was actively protecting children from a vile pervert FFS!

I mean, actual rapists get less than this man has!

Dad with 'heart of gold' knocked out man who was exposing himself to families

Richard Gathercole, 39, has been convicted of assault after knocking out a man who was exposing himself on a street in front of families with a single punch

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dad-heart-gold-knocked-out-35544209.amp

OP posts:
BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 12/07/2025 15:26

Violence is never the answer (unless in genuine self-defence / defending others from physical harm) so I think the sentence is probably fair. He could have taken a non-physical approach. It’s the pathetic sentences for rapists that aren’t.

I think the pervert should have been charged as well, though, but I suppose there is no way of finding out.

TheCurious0range · 12/07/2025 15:26

Given the severity of the injury this is at the low end of the sentencing guidelines. One punch like that could've killed him. Also rapists don't get suspended sentences, the starting point for that offence is 4 years custody not suspended.

x2boys · 12/07/2025 15:29

As abhorrent as the behaviour was ,ge could have killed him people can't take the laww into their own hands..

ExtraOnions · 12/07/2025 15:30

He punched someone else in the head, with such force, he has a fractured skull, he could easily have been stood there on a Manslaughter charge.

Vigilante behaviour never ends well

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 12/07/2025 15:32

Weird reporting but then that’s a red top for you!

one punch deaths are a thing. Heart of gold or not, he is just a violent thug if he went straight in with his fists!

tigger1001 · 12/07/2025 15:36

He broke the law - that's why he has a criminal record.

Lurkingandlearning · 12/07/2025 15:36

We can’t punch perverts. It’s against the law and if people are allowed to break the law in certain circumstances then there isn’t really any law.

But, I think, in situations like that the risk for the person punching is too great just to teach that scum a lesson. Having hit him hard enough to knock him out he could have caused brain damage and been charged with a more serious offence. Worse, the pervert might have hit his head on the pavement and died. It happens. Then he would’ve been in a world of trouble. His life would be ruined for a moment of impulsiveness.

DoYouReally · 12/07/2025 15:37

I agree with you.

I don't like voilence but in this instance I've no issue with him giving this man a thump.

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 12/07/2025 15:40

Op is calling him a ‘pervert’…. Like he had seen kids and exposed himself to them

the reporting was a bit off so looked elsewhere….. some reports of a drunken man…. Who knows.

vivainsomnia · 12/07/2025 15:47

We have no idea how the guy was exposing himself. There's a difference between going for a wee behind a tree but still being visible by some people and pulling your trousers down and touching yourself in front in a children play area.

Original poster
CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 16:30

vivainsomnia · 12/07/2025 15:47

We have no idea how the guy was exposing himself. There's a difference between going for a wee behind a tree but still being visible by some people and pulling your trousers down and touching yourself in front in a children play area.

There is NO acceptable way of exposing yourself, especially around children!

Honestly, and this is a parenting website!

OP posts:
Livpool · 12/07/2025 16:39

vivainsomnia · 12/07/2025 15:47

We have no idea how the guy was exposing himself. There's a difference between going for a wee behind a tree but still being visible by some people and pulling your trousers down and touching yourself in front in a children play area.

WTAF

mumda · 12/07/2025 16:48

He pled guilty.

It's a horrible thing to live with.

Will the victim be charged with anything?

ilovesooty · 12/07/2025 16:58

He was violent and he could have killed the man he punched. Of course he'll have found the other man's behaviour abhorrent but he has quite rightly been charged, convicted and has a criminal record.

Original poster
CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 17:10

Okay, so what would those who agree with the sentence suggest that the man should have done to stop the pervert?

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 12/07/2025 17:14

CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 17:10

Okay, so what would those who agree with the sentence suggest that the man should have done to stop the pervert?

Take the kids inside, take some photographs, call the Police.

Pinty · 12/07/2025 17:17

You are being unreasonable. He shouldn't have taken the law into his own hands. Vigilantism is dangerous.
He should have taken the children inside and phoned the police. There was no need for him to use violence

LunchtimeNaps · 12/07/2025 17:19

It doesn't give any details surrounding the exposure for anyone to comment. This guy is lucky the "pervert" didn't die tbh. He should have called the police and if any kids were at risk he could have protected them and assisted them to get away from the threat. Anyway who thinks punching him was going to solve anything needs to give their heads a wobble and this story clearly proves that.

SummerEve · 12/07/2025 17:24

CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 16:30

There is NO acceptable way of exposing yourself, especially around children!

Honestly, and this is a parenting website!

Show quote history

Yes, it is a parenting website. That’s one of the reasons why we shouldn’t be supportive of random men deciding to take the law into their own hands and seriously injuring people. It’s not hard to understand.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 12/07/2025 17:24

CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 17:10

Okay, so what would those who agree with the sentence suggest that the man should have done to stop the pervert?

Call the police like any normal person would do?

rwalker · 12/07/2025 17:37

There’s a world of difference between giving Someone a slap to throwing a punch so hard it fractures there skull and they get a bleed on the brain

just because you agree with the sentence doesn’t mean your defending the perv

if he’d given a few punches and thenwalked away I doubt there’d be any prosecution

ultimately it was to punching so hard it fractured the skull it was the pure force behind the punches not the fact he punched him

WhichDressBelles · 12/07/2025 17:40

Yikes

Darragon · 12/07/2025 17:40

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 12/07/2025 15:40

Op is calling him a ‘pervert’…. Like he had seen kids and exposed himself to them

the reporting was a bit off so looked elsewhere….. some reports of a drunken man…. Who knows.

You're confusing "pervert" and "paedo". Paedos purposely target kids. Perverts are people who behave in a depraved sexual manner. Bloke was definitely a pervert. Alcohol is no excuse. I'm sure most of us have been very drunk in our time and never even thought to expose ourselves to a bunch of onlookers (kids or otherwise).

x2boys · 12/07/2025 17:43

CrazyOldMe · 12/07/2025 17:10

Okay, so what would those who agree with the sentence suggest that the man should have done to stop the pervert?

Well certainly not take the laws into their hands
There would be anarchy if everybody just decided to deal with criminal acts with violence
All the police that's their job.

Borborygmus · 12/07/2025 17:45

Well he clearly doesn't have a 'heart of gold', he's a thug.