Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

61 year old man gets suspended sentence for assaulting an eight year old boy

15 replies

LittleBella · 30/11/2007 17:45

god, some people are really uptight about trick or treaters aren't they?

If I was that bothered, I'd turn out the lights and go to the back of the house and not open the door. What is the matter with some people? I'm not at all sure a suspended sentence is the right thing for this guy, he should be made to go on an anger management course.

OP posts:
Freckle · 30/11/2007 17:48

Well, to be fair, he was ordered to do 80 hours community service as well as the suspended sentence - and ordered to pay compensation. An anger management course might help too of course as well as a course in common sense - as in ignore the bell if you don't like T&Ters.

cornsilk · 30/11/2007 17:51

Meanwhile a teacher who does similar to a 15 year old who racially abuses and pushes him has to resign.

Original poster
LittleBella · 30/11/2007 18:10

Well I thought it was right that he resigned tbh.

Nothing excuses the 15 year old's behaviour, but if you can't control your temper, you can't work with children, end of. Unless there were extreme mitigating circumstances which meant that the guy was unlikely to snap again (like his mother had just died or something), however regrettable, the man cannot be allowed to work with children. He knew that, which is why he's not arguing the case, he resigned, he didn't have to wait to get the sack.

I really think anger management needs to be taught in schools and offered as standard so that people learn to recognise their flashpoints and learn techniques to deal with them.

OP posts:
bossybritches · 30/11/2007 19:19

LB that goes for kids as well as staff!

Original poster
LittleBella · 30/11/2007 19:23

yes tht's what i meant - that kids should be taught to take ownership of their feelings and responsibility for them.

But sorry, you cannot equate a child's responsibility with an adult's.

OP posts:
Reallytired · 30/11/2007 22:14

He did have the lights out and he had a sign up. The article says

"He had put a "no trick-or-treat" poster up and lashed out when the boy called. "

"She told the court the notice was behind the window glass and was poorly lit. "

I think that a 61 year old man punching an eight year old is unacceptable. However the boys parents should not encourage their son to beg for sweets off strangers. There are people out there who would do a lot worst to a child than punch them.

I hate treat or treaters, but I have a much simpler plan for getting rid of them for good....

I tell them that Jesus loves them and it sends them running!

Last Halloween I didn't get a single knock inspite of not bothering to turn lights off or and I didn't have any notices. My poor neighbour got pestered by 28 kids!

sprogger · 01/12/2007 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsSlocomb · 02/12/2007 08:40

he should not have hit the child.

Trick or treating is disgusting though. It is begging. I allow my children to go with other friends and their parents. I hate it though and that makes me a hypocrite but i feel It's so undignified and common, begging, yuk

Reallytired · 02/12/2007 16:03

This is a sad lesson to parents that children NEED to be taught not to go asking for sweets off strangers. Stranger danger is a sad fact of British society

A grown man punching a child is totally inexcusabe. Just as it is unforgivable when any stranger hurts or kills a child.

However the parents allowed the child to get into a dangerous situation.

yurt1 · 02/12/2007 16:05

He did it in front of a policewoman !In the first newspaper report he said "i have no remorse because of my generation".

Reallytired · 02/12/2007 16:21

The police are not there to provide childcare. The incident could have been avoided if the boy's parents had taken better care of him.

The man is a nasty Sh!t. I think he should have been given a harsher punishment.

There are lots of incidences of children being kidnapped or hurt due to lack of parental supervision. As parents we have to be aware that the world is not always a nice place.

yurt1 · 02/12/2007 16:23

The Mum was there too, stood next to the child.

NKF · 02/12/2007 16:26

Do people think it's an unreasonable sentence? Community service and compensation seems about right to me. I'm not sure it merits a prison sentence.

Peachy · 02/12/2007 16:26

That's right Mrs Slocomb, in this world common is the absolute worst thing you can be (mine dont trick or treat bt we love to haev the kids round, pumpkins in every window for us!)

Kids mum was tere, man was a nasty piece of work. Shame he didnt get custodial.

yurt1 · 02/12/2007 16:29

here's the original newspaper report. He was lucky to avoid prison, especially given that the idiot represented himself.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page