accused of assault

[banksy73]

i was accused of slapping a student around teh face at teh school prom 8 days ago. up until now there is no log from police, and i have not been contacted by police. i have written a thorough statement of my whereabouts that evening. i have not slapped a child in the face. i have got a crb check that is clean since 2003. i am devastaed. my life could be over. i have two children with no previous criminal record. i have been suspended from work and have receiuved a letter saying i am to be visited by police an social services. what will happen if tehy do not believe me. what is teh worst that can happen to me. one other child said he saw it happen in a busy event. nobody else knows about it.help i am very very scared i am going to lose my children and go to prison. what will i be chargeed with. and what punishment will i be give. ;'(

[stonekicker]

chill. you are panicking at this stage (and quite rightly!) as i'm sure lots of people would be. if it was a packed and busy event, there will also be plenty of witnesses for you and the circumstances surrounding the incident should be thoroughly investigated. chances are, if its a little scrote complaining because you told him/her off at the event, this will come to light. i doubt very much, even if the worst came to the worst and you were convicted that you would be sent to prison or have your children taken off you. not for a slap - people do much worse! please don't do anything rash, silly or that will compound your defence - i.e. attempt to contact the child etc. keep your head down, remain calm and above all be honest. the truth will out. good luck x

[daffy654]

In what capacity were you at the event? are you a teacher?
Has this teenager given a reason for why you supposedly slapped them?

[banksy73]

i am a special needs teaching assistant i was there as a guest not an employee. police were present (our kids can have mischief to find!!) aswell as police present and soicialising all evening around teh place which consisted of a small marquee a school hall and a smallish car park area, we had one of our behaviour managers present too, as well as teh principal and othe r senior memebers of staff not one person at teh event was informed no parental notification from teh school apparently two kids disclosed to a member of staff on monday at two pm. i was told to leave the building. i asked a policeofficer informally on monday afternoon if they had been informed of anything, they said no we have not had any reports of this incident atall. so now i am to be interviewed. so teh baove answer has not ruled out that i could be imprisoned. there was no pyhsical evidnece on the nigt on a body and no reporting to any persons, staff police or parents. what is going to happen to me if social services do not believe me tahnk you so much ...i have not been sleeping cant stop crying frightened for myself and my children my rep. my career ;'( also i do not know who teh student is at all. i know tey are both lads about 14 years old.

[stonekicker]

i say again - for a slap it is so unlikely you will go to prison. you say there is no evidence, it was reported after the fact and is a minor offence. you need to get this in perspective before you do yourself a mischief. and before you accuse me of being unsympathetic or whatever, i also work in a profession where there is the possibility of being accuesed of allsorts - and i have been in the past. i too felt very stressed, faced the possibility of losing not only my livelihood and my profession and a potential prison sentence (but the allegation was more serious than a slap)but i did all the right things and stuck it out. you know what happened, others will too and it will all come out. there is no point in beating yourself up too. make sure if you are feeling this bad you see your gp now if possible, or at least on monday. see if there is any union or occupational support you are entitled to and fight your corner. above all - chill out! you need to keep a calm and level head to deal with this and care for your children, too. they will pick up on your levels of stress and are probably finding things hard too. get support from family or friends too, even if it is just having company or a cooked meal being delivered. do not isolate yourself from others or try to hide what is going on. honesty is always the best policy and you may get valuable advice and support from others around you. good luck x

[tamborine]

You need a solicitors support (dont use police solicitors). If you're innocent you should be okay but at worst you haven't murdered anyone.

False accusations like this break a man (MJ accusers note) and I hope you find the strength to prove your innocence.....good luck.

[stonekicker]

check through your union (if you are a member) or your household insurance to see if you are covered for legal support. anyone who works in this type of profession should be a member of a union, if only to cover your @rse when things go wrong...x

[daffy654]

Are you employed by the local authority or directly by the school?
You need to contact your union and ask if they will pay for a solicitor for you to defend this accusation.
Please try not to worry as without any proof,injury or independent witnesses the boys word can't be trusted.

[banksy73]

thank you. for all your words everyone i really appreciate it.
there are two lads one who said it was done and one who said he saw it.
what i am working on that i hope will work in my fav is the fact that no parents or police were informed or school staff.
would this be taken in to consideration. would teh poiilce think this bears any relevance that no one said any thing. i am n unson, however my rep is very kind and supportve i cannot deny that
but i am worried i am goin to get whsked away in police car and tehy will interrogate me...do you think they will ask...
why did no one else hear about teh incident.
why police were not contacted at time.
why parents have not informed school
do you think the fact that these points go in my favour?

[Rollo]

Bearing in mind the drastic consequences for you if things go the wrong way, I strongly advise you to get your own solicitor, and to take his advice before you answer any questions should the police become involved and need to question you.

[tamborine]

your grounds of innocence listed here is too erratic to confront a police interview.

Get independant legal advice......once police tell the boys you're ready to fight with your own legal rep (who will also claim damages for you) should frighten the boys & police off.

[calum81]

once they find you innocent the best thing you can do is slap the little **** for real! ! boy who cried and all that

[brenda]

banksy 73---number 1 calm down,
Number 2 --keep your union rep onside.
Number 3 --do not discuss
this with anyone outside of your family.
Number 4--get your own solicitor on standby, although your union will provide legal representation.
Number 5 --keep your cool at all costs , don't be drawn into verbals with anyone.

I am writing to you as a retired teacher , and have seen a fair few incidents of this kind.I worked for 34 years in education at different levels and I believe you are being set up.
Trust me banksy the truth will out , and life is full of little scumbags who will lie .
I wish you the very best of luck , please keep in touch with us all, we are here to help.
And finally again calm down , you are not doing yourself any favours by being in a panic
Brenda.

[paraffin]

Hi banksy:

Could I please ask you the following:

Who sent you this letter informing you of an impending visit by Police and Social Services?

Are both meant to be visiting simultaneously?

Where are you to be interviewed?

Does this letter actually indicate that any injury was allegedly caused by this supposed slap?

[banksy73]

hello ..thank you.....
well the school sent the lettera secondary school. they said that they had decided at a school intervention strategy meetin that this ws to happen...they sadi the police will be contactin me within four weeks ...they said to wait at home for them they said i will be hearin from the police and the cyps (childrens young peoples services) they said the outcome of their investigation will then be discussed in another joint strategy meetin...i was suspended on tuesday... they refuse to tell me who the disclosers were and who teh staff are...i know nothing else...i am worried that they will turn up when i am feeding my young children. i am worried they will do this when i need to be with my babies. they also said i am suspended until further notice. ;< i have only been told that i have been acccused of slapping a child around the face with one other witness present. ther is no mention of any injuries there is no police log. there is no know injury to my knowledge cause i did not do it...but some one could lie and say there was. i have not been told where the interview will take place. there was no mention of any injury, but i think even if there was tehy would not tell me.......all i know for def is that i spoke wi a local pooliceman on weds pm and she said that there was no known incident reported at all and if teh incident happened on the friday previous then that is five days with out any knowledge been passed to the police.

[philkool]

Maybe in prison you can learn how to spell

[banksy73]

sorry if my spelling is rather inappropriate. i apologise. its late i have my ten year old son my seven year old daughter next to me. its been a rather hard week ;'(

[banksy73]

that wasn't very friendly ;'(

[philkool]

are you a mother or father ?

[banksy73]

i am a mummy. single parent. i work full time. i have just finished a BA in steiner ed.

[brenda]

banksy73---do you have anyone in your family to help support you, or a friend maybe?