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Barrister faces ruin as she is convicted of assault

77 replies

Astelia · 20/10/2012 05:48

I can't see another thread on this yet, apologies if I have missed one. Details here.

I wonder where the dad was, why the daughter wasn't in trouble for wasting police time and why she was such a spoilt brat. Both parents need to take responsibility for the daughter's terrible behaviour, though we all know that the best parents can have children who behave appallingly. The mother shouldn't have flown off the handle but goodness knows she was provoked.

I wonder if the daughter is sorry for her part in this and also why it actually went to court.

OP posts:
Xenia · 20/10/2012 18:18

I want to know the back story. Why did the girl call the police for the taxi money? Eg did she come homw from her friend's and see her mother drunk and abusive and need to escape? Or did she come home and wanted to go back - that bit does not make sense. I think something awful must have been happening for her to clal the police. Then they told her off which is of course what happened to al ot of the Jimmy Saville girls and girls worldwide who are hurt by those around them.

Then how much hair? If it were the odd strand because she'd brushed the hair that' s nothing and the case shoudl not have gone ahead. If it was a chunk of hair and she was left with a bald spot then that is very wrong and parents need to know they cannot do that even if provoked. I have had 5 children over 28 years and never hit one. It is perfectly possible to bring up children without resorting to illegal violence against them.

If there a more detailed report of what the daughter said happened and what the mother said happened? Could the daughter not make a youtube video and post it telling us her side of things?

frumpet · 20/10/2012 21:34

Ok quick straw poll , how many of us would have hit our mothers repeatedly in the face with an item of clothing and thrown clean IRONED clothes down the stairs at 11 ?

I wouldn't .

calypso2008 · 20/10/2012 21:45

Neither would I frumpet
Was it not the mothers birthday also? I thought perhaps she got herself a nice bottle of wine (and why the hell shouldn't she?) and said (after a couple of glasses) 'I am not driving you to so-and-so's house. Child had hissy fit.

Who knows? But I am firmly on the mothers side here - I just am

Frontpaw · 20/10/2012 22:43

I had a lot more respect for terrified of my mum at that age. In fact, she would have been the one to call the police if I'd raised a hand to her. Its the way we were brought up.

I'm assuming to be a barrister she hasn't exactly been a sahm baking cookies for the pta for the last 11 years? More likely working her arse off long hours while the child is in the care of a nanny, and the child sees her mum as a cash machine and more of an 'equal' than a parent.

BegoniaBampot · 20/10/2012 23:23

Must admit Xenia's twist on the daughter calling the police is interesting and throws a different slant on it.

but, me and my siblings (or any of my friends)would never, ever have behaved like this girl is supposed to have behaved.

blueshoes · 20/10/2012 23:40

Well, if the woman gets disbarred and loses her job, her daughter would have just shot herself in the foot. Nice one.

difficultpickle · 20/10/2012 23:46

For good or bad children these days know about calling the police, Childline etc and aren't afraid to do so even for what may be perceived as trival reasons. Children are listened to in a way that never happened when I was growing up. That has to be a good thing. Having said that this report makes the child sound like an over entitled brat. I hope that there is more to this story as otherwise it doesn't merit the destruction of this mother's career.

Fwiw barristers are self employed and choose the hours/days they work. It can be a family friendly career (more so than being a solicitor working in an law firm).

difficultpickle · 20/10/2012 23:47

trivial, I do know how to spell [pedant]

ThatVikRinA22 · 20/10/2012 23:50

im surprised this got to court - i would have written it off as lawful chastisement, which as far as i can see, it was.

im a bit aghast this got to court.

LineRunner · 20/10/2012 23:53

I know, Vicar. It seems odd.

ThatVikRinA22 · 20/10/2012 23:54

well, thats if it was lawful chastisement of course.....seems a bit harsh though.
i would not stand for my 11 year old hitting me in the face - i would react. rightly or wrongly. i think this is the problem now - parents are scared to discipline their children lawfully, i am not advocating hitting, or abuse, i am advocating common sense and consequences. no 11 year old should be hitting their parents.

ATourchOfInsanity · 20/10/2012 23:55

Jeeesus. I want to give that woman a holiday and a whole case of wine :(

ATourchOfInsanity · 20/10/2012 23:56

Although I imagine this could possibly have gone under the radar if DF hadn't pulled it out of the gutter... poor poor woman.

Xenia · 21/10/2012 09:45

It seems odd which is why we cannot really comment without knowing the background. Perhaps the girl didn't throw the clothes down the stairs.

There certainly should be some parity. It is as much a criminal offence for a child to hit a parent as vice versa.

Another issue is should parents at home in charge of children drink all evening? I don't drink at all so it would not apply to me but that is another factor here.

I suppose there isn't a transcript of the hearing?

Snorbs · 21/10/2012 09:54

MN poster: "My 11yo DD was having a full-on, throwing-stuff-around tantrum last night. My DH had been drinking and he lost his temper. At one point he grabbed her by the hair and pulled it out. The police have got involved. WWYD?"

Mumsnet Massive: "The poor man. Goodness knows he was provoked. He needs a holiday and a case of wine."

Nope, still can't see it happening.

Frontpaw · 21/10/2012 11:14

Either parent would restrain a child having a violent outburst. You would have to - you can't stand there and take it - or if you do, to what extent (when she picks up a lamp to throw at you). I have violence and would definately restrain my child if he started lashing out - where would it end if he thought it ok to raise a hand to anyone (especially a parent).

I think it was a tantrum, parenting which was ineffectual for whatever reason, and lashing out. Hardly Crime Court material.

Frontpaw · 21/10/2012 11:58

'Hate' not 'have' (or haz)

edam · 21/10/2012 12:16

Ridiculous that this ended up in court.

Birdsgottafly · 21/10/2012 12:39

Perhaps the daughter was sick of coming home to find her mother drunk?

No-one's knows, except them.

If the mother was planning on getting drunk it makes me wonder why she wouldn't let the girl stay at the sleepover.

Interesting that she used the excuse of having to much to drink to control herself, but then she knows how to put a good defense together,

LtEveDallas · 21/10/2012 13:21

Birds, I do wish you'd stop saying this mother was drunk. If she had been drunk the police would not have left, which they did.

If they did leave a drunken mother in charge of a vulnerable child then this would have been a much bigger story than one bloody mention in the Daily Hate.

difficultpickle · 21/10/2012 13:43

Birds, interesting spin you've put on this story and nothing in the facts reported that indicate this was a regular pattern of behaviour by the mother. More likely is the 11 yr old wanted to go to her friends. Mother said no. 11 yr old wants to go by taxi, mother says no, 11 yr old kicks off, mother's patience probably not what it would normally be because of having had a few drinks, mother reacts.

I doubt the mother 'planned' to get drunk but probably had drunk more than the legal limit for driving. I doubt it will be an end to her career at all.

Animation · 21/10/2012 13:59

bisjo - what are the facts?

I mean this is reported in the Daily Mail?

The mother was convicted of assault, so I give the 11 year old the benefit of the doubt and not assume that she is a spoilt kid from hell. Possibly the mother is a mother from hell?? Who knows.

Snorbs · 21/10/2012 14:01

If she had been drunk the police would not have left, which they did.

That's not neccesarily true. There is no law against being drunk at home in charge of children. Hell, there's no law against being drunk in public with a child over 7 years old. It's only if you're so totally wasted that the police think you're a positive danger to yourself and others will the police take steps.

That being said, if she was so drunk unsober to think that grabbing her 11yo DD's hair was a suitable means of "restraint" then quite frankly I think it is appropriate to have ended up in court over this. I'd certainly expect to if I were in her shoes.

difficultpickle · 21/10/2012 15:16

Animation I have no clue what the facts are which is why I wrote 'facts reported'.

If I had an 11 yr old girl hitting me in the face I would be doing what I could to protect myself.

Frontpaw · 21/10/2012 15:30

It was in the Teleraph yesterday too - more bland reporting but there was no hinting of any child abuse or ongoing family problems.

It said that the child was supposed to be out at a friends for a sleepover, came home then asked for a lift back - mum said no (assume she was either laying down the law or had a couple of drinks inside her so sensibly not happy to drive). When a taxi was asked for, the mum refused, so it all kicked off.

It doesn't sound extreme, unbelieveable or fantastic. Usual stresses and dramas of home life. If hair hadn't been pulled (maybe if a swipe had been delivered to the back of the head) then the police wouldn't have done anything. I feel sorry for the whole family. To have lost control and had the whole saga in court (with possible professional repercussions) must be hideously mortifying. To have called the police on your mum because she wouldn't pay for a taxi (not because you had sawn off your leg and needed to go to a+e) must also be quite shaming (once you have calmed down). People who know them will know its them. Its a wonder they are leaving their front door.

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