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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think a man accused of throwing a child into a crocodile enclosure should not get bail?

1000 replies

YourKeenOliveNewt · 20/06/2026 03:37

Aibu to think the man who threw an unknown 3 year old into a crocodile enclosure shouldn't be out on bail?

If anyone could provide any insight into the reasoning behind why was granted bail I would be very interested to hear it.

AIBU: He's a danger to society
AINBU: Innocent until proven guilty

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Kirbert2 · 21/06/2026 21:40

SleeplessInWherever · 21/06/2026 21:38

Mine has 2:1 so he doesn’t throw himself into bodies of water, or play with fire, or run into roads.

Because he’s got silly little needs.

Mine also has 2:1 which has nothing at all to do with other people's safety.

Temporaryusernamename · 21/06/2026 21:40

SleeplessInWherever · 21/06/2026 21:33

Let what out though, how much you think disabled people have “poor little needs”?

You could have always said that, it just looks less ableist today.

I didn't say anything against disabled people at all. What a ridiculous generalisation.

I couldn't care less about dangerous people who throw kids to crocodiles. Whether they are disabled or not. I don't care about their poor little needs. I don't want to waste time pissing about deciding if one facility is better than another. I don't care. I just want them removed from society. And I certainly don't want them let back out after being arrested for attempted murder because the police don't know how to handle them.

SleeplessInWherever · 21/06/2026 21:40

LizardLore · 21/06/2026 21:39

I wonder if this is the same user who almost exclusively posts about how much she resents the disabled kids at her own kid’s mainstream school?

I hope so. If there’s two of them that’s concerning.

I don’t know, but unfortunately there are definitely more than two of them.

The things that are said on here sometimes are absolutely toe curling. By definitely more than two of them.

SleeplessInWherever · 21/06/2026 21:42

Kirbert2 · 21/06/2026 21:40

Mine also has 2:1 which has nothing at all to do with other people's safety.

Yep! It takes 2 people to change mine… because of his silly needs.

I’m seeing a theme here!

randomchap · 21/06/2026 21:43

Temporaryusernamename · 21/06/2026 21:35

While I'm at it, those useless carers who failed to control the monster should be locked up for a spell too.
And whatever overpaid social worker decided he should have 2:1 supervision while out (so was clearly known to be dangerous) but also that sending him to a zoo full of children with two gormless phone addicted, uneducated support workers was a good idea.
Lock them all up. Together.

Overpaid social workers?

You're not really making much sense.

Kirbert2 · 21/06/2026 21:45

SleeplessInWherever · 21/06/2026 21:42

Yep! It takes 2 people to change mine… because of his silly needs.

I’m seeing a theme here!

Yep! 2 people to change mine too.

SleeplessInWherever · 21/06/2026 21:47

Temporaryusernamename · 21/06/2026 21:40

I didn't say anything against disabled people at all. What a ridiculous generalisation.

I couldn't care less about dangerous people who throw kids to crocodiles. Whether they are disabled or not. I don't care about their poor little needs. I don't want to waste time pissing about deciding if one facility is better than another. I don't care. I just want them removed from society. And I certainly don't want them let back out after being arrested for attempted murder because the police don't know how to handle them.

Okay.

Well fortunately absolutely nobody is asking you to decide what facility is or isn’t best, or what route to follow.

He likely will be removed from society, and somehow securely contained. He won’t be fed to crocodiles, but then I would doubt anyone’s going to ask you what the punishment should be either.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 21/06/2026 22:11

Bonkers2026 · 20/06/2026 08:00

The carers should be arrested

The buck has to stop somewhere, and if they were both negligent, then they should be.

An anodyne ‘lessons will be learned’ statement from their institution just isn’t enough.

x2boys · 21/06/2026 22:12

Temporaryusernamename · 21/06/2026 21:40

I didn't say anything against disabled people at all. What a ridiculous generalisation.

I couldn't care less about dangerous people who throw kids to crocodiles. Whether they are disabled or not. I don't care about their poor little needs. I don't want to waste time pissing about deciding if one facility is better than another. I don't care. I just want them removed from society. And I certainly don't want them let back out after being arrested for attempted murder because the police don't know how to handle them.

Well it s not up to you so💁

Londonrach1 · 21/06/2026 22:16

Fault with the carers who be on basic wage and the managers who do the assessment. Rumours are the carers were on phones which is so is awful.

PetuniaT · 21/06/2026 22:16

XenoBitch · 21/06/2026 21:15

How would prison be suitable for him?

Being "in care" didn't prevent him from harming the poor kid, did it? I'm not the one who mentioned prison - I was just referring to the usual empathy/sympathy for the perpetrator rather than his victim

XenoBitch · 21/06/2026 22:18

PetuniaT · 21/06/2026 22:16

Being "in care" didn't prevent him from harming the poor kid, did it? I'm not the one who mentioned prison - I was just referring to the usual empathy/sympathy for the perpetrator rather than his victim

You can have empathy for both the perpetrator and victim. It is not either/or.

croydon15 · 21/06/2026 22:31

This - he probably didn't know what he was doing. Jail is definitely not the place for him, the carer probably didn't watch him for a short while.
It's a tragedy but punishing someone with special needs is not the answer.

ByLemonLeader · 21/06/2026 22:38

Temporaryusernamename · 21/06/2026 21:40

I didn't say anything against disabled people at all. What a ridiculous generalisation.

I couldn't care less about dangerous people who throw kids to crocodiles. Whether they are disabled or not. I don't care about their poor little needs. I don't want to waste time pissing about deciding if one facility is better than another. I don't care. I just want them removed from society. And I certainly don't want them let back out after being arrested for attempted murder because the police don't know how to handle them.

I'm going to bite, because you sound a lot like someone I know, who has had a very scary experience in the past and I am even wondering if you might be her.
My DIL worked in a supported living service for people with complex mental health needs and learning disabilities. 30 self contained flats, 24hr staff, varying level of needs, some were completely on dependent and went out and about by themselves.
One female service user got into a very very abusive relationship with a member of the community, there's no need for details but basically my DIL was tasked with trying to get to the bottom of what was going on by speaking to the service user about it. She was around 6 months pregnant at the time, and left one on one with this person.
This person was known to sometimes get aggressive. She had been in prison before for assault and had a worrying obsession with serial killers, particularly Myra Hindley whom she openly said she idolised.
During the conversation, the service user very suddenly punched my DIL straight in the face. She was later found to have a fractured jaw. The service user started screaming about how dare my DIL criticise her boyfriend, she's a fucking slut, she's going to kick her baby out of her. DIL made a run for the door, while the service user rained punches and kicks down on her, and managed to lock herself in an office. The SU was banging and kicking on the door, screaming about how she would "cut her baby out of her, like Charles Manson, and show it to her before she killed her" terrified, shaking and crying, my bruised and injuried DIL managed to phone first the police and then her colleague, who was the only other person on duty, and who was outside smoking and had heard nothing, to please help. The police heard the screaming from the SU and said they were on the way, the colleague said he'd just finish his fag and be right in. The police arrived before the colleague had bothered to re-enter the building to help his pregnant colleague.
They arrested the SU and took her away. The colleague said he would need to call a manager to let them know a SU had been arrested. DIL said she needed to go to hospital as she thought her jaw was fractured, she was badly shaken, and worried about her baby. Colleague said could should not wait until the end of her shift because there wasn't anyone else that could come in
DIL walked out, flagged down a taxi, and went to the hospital. She had scans, the baby was fine, an x-ray confirmed a fractured jaw and she was covered in bruises and very sore. Her phone did not stop ringing the whole time and she received angry voicemails and texts from her boss telling her she should not have walked out. Neither her boss not colleague asked how she was. She also had phone calls from the police asking if she was "sure she wanted to pursue this as they weren't really sure what to do with her".
DIL did want to go ahead and press charges. The SU was released on bail that night.
Over the months leading up to a court case DIL had several people say to her "but isn't it your job to deal with this stuff?" Or "but the police can't really do anything if she's got learning disabilities, can they?" She had a lot of side eye about deciding to press charges against someone who had assaulted her, threatened her life and the life of her child, as if she was being dramatic or over-reacting.
The SU did not turn up to court. The defence basically had the same tactics as others, you do know she's got learning disabilities? Is it not your job? Is this all really necessary?
Nevertheless, the service user was found guilty of GBH and threats to kill. DIL was told someone would let her know about sentencing.
A couple of months later, she received a phone call. I don't know who from, whoever deals with it, but same stuff the police said "do you really want to pursue this, because we're not sure how to take it forward" DIL said yes, she does. Person on the other end of the phone sounded very impatient.
The result? SU was given a "conditional discharge" what was the point in any of that.
Around a year later, the same SU was arrested again, this time for assaulting an elderly man with a golf club in the middle of town in broad daylight. I don't know exactly what happened, but I saw her out and about again, a short time later and I often see her around town, getting into trouble and shouting abuse and people walking by. Nothing is ever done and it's only a matter of time before she hurts someone else.

The point to this story? I can see why people become angry and why people are angry at thean in this situation. My DIL isn't, but my DIL's mother very much is and sounds exactly like you, she thinks the man should get locked up and the key thrown away. She thinks there's too much pandering top much tip-toeing about and that dangerous people should simply be removed from society so they don't hurt anyone else. She's livid that it appeared that noone quite knew what to do about the perpetrator in my DIL's case, there was no victim care, and the person did pretty much get away with it, and they themselves were not given the support they needed (they are still with the highly abusive and dangerous person now and despite the fact that she gets support with soany things she can't amge herself, noone has the ability to remove her from this person who abuses her).

So while I do not agree with you, OP, I do actually sympathise and see where you are coming from. It can absolutely look like things are all centred on the person who did the terrible thing, and their needs, and their future, with less thought being given to the victims. I haven't seen one person ask if anyone knows if that little boy is expected to pull through.

But the reality is, we do have to address people's individual need, this isn't Victorian England, we can't just select the nearest jail cell and chuck them in, or send them to Tyburn or Australia.

But when it seems so wishy-washy and slow and focused the the wrong thing, it is hurtful and frustrating. And bloody scary too.

MaturingCheeseball · 21/06/2026 22:43

croydon15 · 21/06/2026 22:31

This - he probably didn't know what he was doing. Jail is definitely not the place for him, the carer probably didn't watch him for a short while.
It's a tragedy but punishing someone with special needs is not the answer.

Not punishing, no. But he needs to be removed from society. He has unfortunately demonstrated that he presents a severe danger to the public. So the public deserves to be protected.

There are some posters adamant that this man should face no consequences. It’s doesn’t matter what his mental capacity, the fact is he is a dangerous man and the consequence should be the right one, ie he is held in secure accommodation with no further trips out.

StartingFreshFor2026 · 21/06/2026 22:49

Why not bring back biblical justice? The person who has a heart attack at the wheel of a car and runs someone over should be strapped to a road and run over! The epileptic who knocks over someone when they fall should be pushed over themselves. All people with dementia who have attacked healthcare workers should be beaten.

In fact, we can just try to eliminate all risk completely by locking people who could be violent away. Postpartum psychosis can cause mothers to harm their babies and there's no reliable way to predict who will get it, so we should lock away all new mothers for 6 months, just in case. Any children aged 10 or over (the age of criminal responsibility) who have hit someone should be considered to have a "history of violence" and may also be locked up indefinitely once they become big enough to potentially cause greater injury. We should certainly keep all violent criminals in prison for life as they have proved they are in fact violent and there's nothing to say they won't do it again.

Capacity and intent are completely relevant. Jonty Bravery and the Southport killer were autistic and also bad people who were known risks to the public. They planned their attacks, they knew what they were doing, they had capacity to stand trial and were sentenced. Obviously we know very little about this man but if it's true that he has an actual severe learning disability (and the bar not to be fit for interview is incredibly high), it's a completely different (and very complex) matter.

He also will absolutely not be roaming the community free, so no one needs to be faux panicking about that.

StartingFreshFor2026 · 21/06/2026 22:50

Kirbert2 · 21/06/2026 21:45

Yep! 2 people to change mine too.

Yup, we have 2:1 for all the reasons you have both posted.

Waitingfordoggo · 21/06/2026 22:50

The fact that he could not even be interviewed suggest his learning needs are pretty severe- he may well be completely non-verbal. It isn’t ethical to detain someone like that in police custody if he has no understanding of the situation he is in. It’s also unrealistic to expect police custody officers to have the skills to manage someone with complex needs.

Noodledog · 21/06/2026 22:52

XenoBitch · 21/06/2026 22:18

You can have empathy for both the perpetrator and victim. It is not either/or.

To be fair, you don't have sympathy for the victim though, do you? You are the person who posted that it wasn't that bad, because he would have cool scars and stories to tell people.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 21/06/2026 22:53

Temporaryusernamename · 21/06/2026 21:17

You may feel sympathy for both parties, but I do not. I do not care for anyone who does not have basic empathy for others and commits horrific acts. I don't care why or what's wrong with him. I don't care if he has the mind of a toddler or severe autism or learning disabilities or what the hell is wrong with him.
He simply needs to be removed. Forever. Preferably somewhere where he can't attack the poor minimum wage staff like that psycho who threw that poor boy off the Tate modern.

I can't imagine how it feels for the poor family to see discussions like this "oh, let's make sure he's in just the right facility for his poor little needs" just get rid of him.

My empathy is only with the boy, his family and all the people that had to witness that horrific act. I hope all of them get the support they need. To hell with that monster.

I agree.

Fallox · 21/06/2026 22:53

MaturingCheeseball · 21/06/2026 22:43

Not punishing, no. But he needs to be removed from society. He has unfortunately demonstrated that he presents a severe danger to the public. So the public deserves to be protected.

There are some posters adamant that this man should face no consequences. It’s doesn’t matter what his mental capacity, the fact is he is a dangerous man and the consequence should be the right one, ie he is held in secure accommodation with no further trips out.

Happy to be proved wrong. I don't think ive seen anyone saying no consequences.

Some people are saying that he shouldn't be punished, but that doesnt mean they dont think he should have his care escalated or go in to secure care. Secure care isnt a punishment.

Ive seen some baulking at the suggestion that people more generically with learning disablities shouldn't be allowed to go to zoos etc because they dont learn anything and could be violent. That without knowing that anything about him, that based on the ld and having two carers that he shouldn't be in public

No one is saying that things should continue as they are

XenoBitch · 21/06/2026 22:55

Noodledog · 21/06/2026 22:52

To be fair, you don't have sympathy for the victim though, do you? You are the person who posted that it wasn't that bad, because he would have cool scars and stories to tell people.

I made a silly comment and it was deleted. I hold my hands up to that.
But here you are now just trying to cause a pile on. No need.

StartingFreshFor2026 · 21/06/2026 22:55

MaturingCheeseball · 21/06/2026 22:43

Not punishing, no. But he needs to be removed from society. He has unfortunately demonstrated that he presents a severe danger to the public. So the public deserves to be protected.

There are some posters adamant that this man should face no consequences. It’s doesn’t matter what his mental capacity, the fact is he is a dangerous man and the consequence should be the right one, ie he is held in secure accommodation with no further trips out.

Which posters said he should face no consequences/ not be deprived of his liberty completely?

Millerhouse1 · 21/06/2026 22:56

HoppingPavlova · 20/06/2026 04:27

Not a popular opinion, but I’d think anyone who requires carers, and with carers is still capable of severely hurting/disabling/killing other people, be it children or adults, does need to be locked up for societies protection. Special needs don’t trump everyone and lease in societies safety but you’ll get nowhere in this front, doing anything accordingly politically incorrect and will have the woke clutching at their pearls (because if it’s not a direct attack on them individually, then fuck everyone else).

This !

Kirbert2 · 21/06/2026 22:57

MaturingCheeseball · 21/06/2026 22:43

Not punishing, no. But he needs to be removed from society. He has unfortunately demonstrated that he presents a severe danger to the public. So the public deserves to be protected.

There are some posters adamant that this man should face no consequences. It’s doesn’t matter what his mental capacity, the fact is he is a dangerous man and the consequence should be the right one, ie he is held in secure accommodation with no further trips out.

Which posters have said absolutely nothing should happen at all? Of course something should happen but it needs to be appropriate for him such as a facility that will meet his needs. Not jail and not a psychiatric hospital if he has no MH conditions.

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