Truancy slap dad convicted?

Question

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/12/15/truancy-slap-dad-convicted-89520-20253379/

A 14-year-old girl has had her father convicted of assault after he slapped her for refusing to go to school.
Forklift driver Steven Hanson, 42, slapped unruly Gemma, 14 - described as the "devil incarnate" by neighbours - after she yelled abuse at him and refused to go to school.
He thought it was just a bit of old-fashioned discipline. But she took him to court for assault. Now Steven has been convicted and ordered to carry out 50 hours' unpaid work.
Baffled, he said after the hearing: "In one way I regret what happened. But in another I don't, as Gemma just defies me. She has no respect.
"Why shouldn't I be able to discipline her? It never hurt me. When I was a kid the bobbies used to give us a clip and we'd get the cane.
"My hands are tied and she's walking all over me. She keeps pushing and pushing and one day I'll do it again. I know I will".

your views on this

alfyboy - new account, the other one got suspended a few days ago

Answer 1

I think its a disgrace
This countries justice system is a joke

Every parent has the right to discipline their child, he slapped her, he didn't beat her up

Answer 2

So many of our young people I see follow in the footsteps of parents who have no morals, no self respect and spend their time idle on alcohol or drugs. Here is a father convicted for chastising an out of control adolescent and look what happens. I love my children (now grown up) dearly but they had to know right from wrong. Until you have been in the position of having a really defiant child you do not have a clue. Some children can take a telling when disobedient and behave, others just cannot. I had one of each as in never had to lift a finger to one and the other (not cruely but enought to make a significant difference) got smacked often. Thankfully they are now 2 professional people and well adjusted adults but society has lost the plot with regard to how parents can discipline their children. When a parents is cruel to a child for no specific reason that is when it becomes a serious worry and if their state of mind makes them behave like this towards their family, whatever the law says it is going to happen any way.

Answer 3

My views are that the father should have maybe disciplined his daughter a bit better in the first place then she wouldn't be as unruly.

I don't necessarily be stricter with her, but he should have installed a bit of respect in her. She does sound like a bit of a nightmare, although maybe she has been tarred with the 'bad kid' brush that often that she has decided this is the only way for her to act.

I was never hit as a child and I wasn't a bad kid. I don't have a criminal record and I have always had a job.

Answer 4

that parent was at the end of his tether by the sound of it, i mean what do you do with a child like that, poor parents cant win they get taken to court if there children dont go school, a slap is a big difference to a beating. this nation will regret taking the power of discipline away from parents, already you can see the gang an mob culture can you imagine a few more years down the line what this country will be like then

Answer 5

it is laughable

Instead of punishing the father the problem which is the daughter should be addressed

Gemma has no respect for anyone and the criminal proceedings against her dad have now displayed to this girl she can do what she wants and there are no consequences for her negative behaviour

I do not believe in smacking children as you know but i believe this man was in an extremely difficult situation and i am aghast he was punished in this way and now has a criminal record

His daughter is now viewed as the victim and there were no consequences

She will now hold her parents to ransom and they will never be able to control her as she knows the law inside and out

All this action has done is fracture even deeper an already struggling family

Answer 6

Presumably he now has a criminal record. If he does it again he may well be imprisoned Had she continued to truant he would be fined and possibly jailed. He is in a no win situation.

Maybe he should rob a bank on the off chance that he can escape with a lot of loot and live a happy life. He may be caught and jailed where he may still be better off than staying at home and trying to control his hellish daughter. At least that way he's in with a chance of getting away with it, and if he goes to jail, at least it will be his own doing, rather than as a reaction to a child's behaviour. I say go for the bank.lol

Answer 7

if an adult split another adults lip by hitting them it would be assault and they would be charged. No one would disagree with the conviction.

However, Mr Hanson, assaulted his daughter, and for some reason that is acceptable?
You do not need, nor have the right to beat up your kids. It is wrong to assault another human being, whatever their age. I am a mother, I do not, nor have ever, hit my child. I dont need to, if you raise them with love, respect and values then they dont turn out to be unruly.
Maybe Gemma would be better off in care. At the least she needs help with her behaviour, but so does her father.

Answer 8

Ridiculous Kam. He would've got the blame for her truanting so he is in a no win situation. Every parent should be allowed to discipline their child(ren). There is a big difference between a wee slap to get her to behave and the kind of abuse she obviously made this out to be. A slap never did me any harm, infact probably more good.

Answer 9

Hello Kamran, Its just the reflection of the general breakdown of decency, respect and discipline in society. If parents have no control, what hope for teachers or the law.

Answer 10

I can understand , IT IS frustating being a parent of a teenager.. their hormones are all over the place at that age.. but 'slapping' is not the answer.. the child , and at 14yrs.. that's what she is...needs help... and obviously counselling.. and has anyone asked her ''WHY'' she doesn't want to go to school.. these kids are under so much peer pressure in this day and age.. is she being bullied..?..

Answer 11

Ridiculous!!!!!
There is no justice. Maybe she should be sent to a boot camp to learn some respect. I do wonder who paid for this case to go to court since she is only 14. I expect the tax payer picked up the bill.