A mum who admitted hitting a 12-year-old boy with a paddle, after a heated confrontation with a group of youths, has been spared immediate custody. Fay Johnson was paddle boarding with her youngsters when they came by a group of 20 to 30 youngsters throwing mud and rocks at river users in St Annes Park, Bristol Crown Court heard.
When Johnson approached the group and challenged them about their behaviour, 12-year-old Antwon Forrest "stood up" to her. The court heard they pushed each other and in the course of the confrontation Johnson struck the boy to the head with her paddle, causing a head wound.
Johnson, 32, whose address has been witheld following online threats to her and her family, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm after the incident in March last year. Judge Edward Burgess KC handed her a four-month jail term, suspended for six months.
