The family of a 12-year-old boy from Bristol have spoken of the upset that has been caused after he was allegedly assaulted with a paddle by a woman.
The boy, who is autistic, had been playing with friends when some of them began to throw what has been described as 'stony, mud balls' into the water - a woman in a paddle boat nearby then got out to tell them off, it is claimed.
According to the boy's family and a letter from the police, the woman admitted to pushing the boy with the paddle in her hand, hitting his head and leaving him with a deep cut. However, the police initially told them that "there is no realistic prospect of conviction should this matter go to court", leaving the family "devastated".
Read more: Man arrested after teen attacked in Wetherspoons on her first ever night out
However, police have now issued a renewed statement to say they will reopen the case, and have urged witnesses to come forward.
Ty Forrest described the impact the incident has had on his son, Antwon, who had been playing by the water at Conham River Park in Brislington on March 26 with friends. He also told of the disappointment he and his family felt upon receiving a letter from the police on April 14 telling him that no further action would be taken against the woman.
He said: "It's a kick in the teeth that nothing has happened. I knew she wasn't going to jail or anything like that but I thought that it might have at least gone on her record or she'd be given a fine.
"If the police could have got some sort of resolution to it, it would have been better, but this is disappointing. I don't want my son to live the rest of his life believing that there are no consequences to things like this.
'Devastated'
"We have been getting a lot of support from people since it happened back in March and Antwon's lived with it. We keep reassuring him but he's scared and upset and we're upset that nothing's been done."
Antwon's aunt, Antonia, shared photos on her Instagram profile of her nephew's injuries as well as a video of the woman confronting his friends after hitting him with the paddle. Alongside the images, which showed the 12-year-old's face bloodied, she accused the woman of singling out her nephew because of the way he looked and the colour of his skin, and wrote: "On the 26th of March I was devastated to receive this picture of my nephew.
"He and his friends had been playing at a lake in Bristol when this lady accused and attacked my nephew with the paddle of her boat for throwing stones which he didn’t even throw!! However, because he was the ONLY black boy there and he’s very tall for a 12 year old she thought it would be okay to attack him!
"I am VERY upset to see that my brother has received a letter explaining they (the police) aren’t doing anything about this matter!!
My nephew is Autistic and this has really affected him, he’s such a sweet soul.
"Please share and like let’s hope the police do something about this lady before other kids get hurt!! If anyone witnessed this at the lake please come forward. Also sign this petition."
Mr Forrest said that after the incident, he went to his son's location and the police were called. After waiting what he claims was an hour for police to arrive, he said one officer turned up, arrested the woman but dropped her home before taking her to the station because "she admitted she'd done it".
He added: "While we were waiting for the police to arrive, I was standing with her and she apologised to me but, at that point, I couldn't accept her apology."
Letter from police
In the letter from police, which was included in Antwon's aunt's Instagram post, Avon and Somerset Police said that "unfortunately the decision has been made to take no further action in this case".
It went on to say: "The main reason for this is that during interview the suspect raised a possibility for self-defence. By this we mean that the suspect admitted pushing Antwon and when pushing him she had the paddle in her hand and this contacted with his head.
"The suspect claimed she pushed Antwon away because he challenged her and she felt threatened by him and the surrounding group. Unfortunately the witness statement we have supports the suspect striking Antwon on the head when she pushed him back.
"Also the CCTV we have does not capture the assault. I am sorry about this decision, I know it will be disappointing."
'If it was the other way round'
Mr Forrest describes his son, Antwon, as a "loving, caring boy with lots of friends" and said: "Even though he has autism he gets on well. The other boys were throwing mud balls or something that day and she had every right to come over and tell them off but she got angry and when my son told her to calm down she pushed him, which made him push her back.
"It really is a kick in the teeth that nothing has happened. If it was the other way round and I had been the one who had hurt her daughter, you bet something would have been done about it."
Police are now reviewing the case
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police told Bristol Live on May 5: "Officers attended after a call reporting that a woman had hit a child with a paddle on the riverside near Wyndham Crescent, Bristol at about 3pm on Saturday 26 March.
"A 12-year-old boy had sustained a head injury which required gluing. The incident was taken seriously and a woman was initially arrested at the scene before being de-arrested in line with Police and Criminal Evidence Act guidelines.
"A woman was subsequently interviewed on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm. Officers took a statement from the child and an adult family friend and viewed footage from after the assault. After reviewing the available evidence officers believed that there was no realistic prospect of a conviction and made all parties aware there would be no further action.
"Victims have a right to request a review in such cases. After becoming aware of the concerns of the injured boy's family through social media, officers got in touch with them and initiated a review of the case. We’d ask anyone who witnessed the incident to call 101 and give the reference 5222071897."
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