A father of two who confronted a child who was bullying his son and daughter could now lose his job over the incident.
Christopher Cooper, from Cumbria in the UK, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress after he admitted shouting at the boy.
The devastated dad had earlier taken to Facebook to seek advice, admitting he felt “absolutely lost” when his two youngest children Millie (11) and Braiden (9) became the victims of a group of bullies at their new school, North Walney Primary.
Detailing the mental and physical abuse his children were enduring, the father wrote:
“Braiden had his arm broken and underwent surgery. On another occasion he was held in a crucifix position with his arms stretched out to the side, so another child could repeatedly punch him in the stomach. Millie has been kicked, punched, verbally abused, even drinks poured over her at the school party whilst wearing her party dress in order to humiliate her.
“Both have been so emotionally affected that I’m concerned Millie is on the verge of having an eating disorder, Braiden has been caught physically making himself sick to avoid going to school.”
After reporting the bullying to the school, Mr Cooper was told the assault was a police matter. When he reported it to the police, he was advised to handle the situation at the school. Runnig out of options, he approached the parents of the bully, who he claims subjected him to a ‘torrent of abuse’.
“Finally at the end of my tether I approached the bully with my daughter.” Mr Cooper writes in his Facebook post. “I will be honest – I told her to pin him up against the fence, knee him in the balls and tell him not to touch you again, sadly she didn’t, because she feared of repercussions from ‘his gang’. Instead it was left to me to challenge him, I told him straight to leave my kids alone or their would be consequences. I didn’t touch him, I certainly didn’t threaten him, although trust me how I didn’t do either I don’t know.”
When the case was heard in court, Mr Cooper was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs. He also received a restraining order.
Speaking to Mr Cooper in court, District Judge Gerald Chalke said: ‘It is ironic that you were complaining about bullying when your own behaviour was clearly bullying.
‘When an adult confronts a child to cause distress then that is bullying. You should have known better.’
Now Mr Cooper says that because of the incident, he faces a disciplinary hearing at work with the Nurses and Midwifery Council.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Cooper told The North West Evening Mail:
“I’m distressed, but relieved that it’s over for my family.
“As a father you have to love and defend your family. When you’re let down by two institutions that are supposed to protect your children, you’re left with no option.
“I felt I had no option than to approach the child myself.”
You can read his original post on the situation here:
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