Thursday, August 14, 2008

Man arrested for hitting daughter



A man who was arrested and cautioned for slapping his 13-year-old daughter across the face fears he will no longer be able to work with children.

Jim McCullough, of Manchester, hit Jess after she banged a neighbour's window at midnight, and she called the police.

He has now quit the football coaching and community work he has done for over 15 years, as the caution could stop him working with vulnerable children.

Mr McCullough said he had never slapped Jess before. She has apologised.

The father-of-four said he felt striking Jess was the only way to get her to understand what she had done.

The single parent, from Wythenshawe, said: "I wish I had asked for my day in court rather than accepted a police caution.

"That way I could have explained that I was trying to do what was right for my daughter.

"Jess isn't bad, but some of the 13-year-olds who live here do use drugs and drink and I don't want that path for her."

Mr McCullough said he had had no trouble with his other three children Christopher, 22, Nicola, 21, and Joanna, 19.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "When an offence is admitted the offender is always liable to receive a caution.

"Had the offence not been admitted, officers would have pursued the matter with the CPS.

'Wrong message'

"An allegation of domestic violence was made and GMP officers always take these allegations very seriously."

Mr McCullough previously had a clean criminal record and recently qualified as a security guard, but said his work prospects had been ruined.

Jess, a year nine pupil at Parklands High School in Wythenshawe, said she was sorry for what had happened.

She said: "I did deserve the slapping because of the things I'd been doing.

"I was expecting my dad to come home from the police station and for everything to be the same as before."

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) policy manager Lucy Thorpe said: "All parents can sometimes be pushed to the limit by teenagers who are looking to see how far they can go but smacking won't solve the problem.

"It simply tells your child that violence is acceptable and gives the message that it's all right for them to hit other people.

Also see Video report

Source BBC

Comment:

This man is a bully and if she were a few years older, it would be domestic abuse. Crazy because she is under 16 and more vulnerable it's OK. This is sick, she is now paraded and humiliated on national tv and in the media saying her abuser was right to beat her and she has also to show how sorry and wrong she was. He stands there like the victim. I wish he had gone to court too. He has broken the law on children/young peoples human rights, mind you in brutish Britain who allows all children/ young people to be beaten "For there own Good" he would be hailed as a hero.

Children/young peoples human rights now.

For your own Good:
http://www.nospank.net/fyog.htm

No comments: