Woman leaves boy, 12, 'permanently scarred' after hitting him with paddle in row
A mum who hit a 12-year-old boy with a paddle during a confrontation has been spared immediate custody.
Fay Johnson was paddle boarding with her children when they came across a group of 20 to 30 youngsters throwing mud and rocks at river users in St Annes Park, Bristol Crown Court heard.
The woman approached the group and confronted them about their behaviour, but Antwon Forrest, 12, "stood up" to her, the court was told.
The court heard Johnson and the boy pushed each other and she struck him with her paddle, causing a head wound, Bristol Live reports.
Johnson, 32, whose address has been withheld following online threats to her and her family, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm after the incident in March last year.
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Johnson leaving Bristol Crown Court (PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)Judge Edward Burgess KC handed her a four-month jail term, suspended for six months.
The judge told a tearful Johnson: "I recognise that the act of violence was wholly out of character for you.
"Unruly behaviour by a large group of youngsters sets the context, but it in no way justifies it as I think you fully accept."
Johnson was ordered to pay Antwon £500 compensation. She declined to comment as she left court.
After the hearing, Antwon's nan Tania Palmer told Bristol Live: "I didn't want her to get a prison sentence. I wanted it to be suspended but I thought it would be a bit longer.
"Antwon is permanently scarred and he just wanted it dealt with. If it was dealt with in the beginning maybe it wouldn't have come to this."
Antwon's aunt Antonia Forrest also said she had not wanted Johnson to be jailed, as she explained: "I'm the same as mum, I didn't want her to go to prison - I'm a mum myself. I wish something could have been done sooner but she's got her punishment."
The women stressed that online threats made to Johnson had not emanated from their family.
Eshan Oarith, prosecuting, said witnesses described seeing a large group of youngsters throwing missiles at river users.
She was given a suspended sentence (Tom Wren SWNS)Mr Oarith said Johnson approached them, asked them where their parents were and told them they should not be throwing things.
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The court heard a verbal altercation broke out between Johnson and Antwon, and in the course of a confrontation, Johnson struck him with her paddle.
He suffered a 1cm long cut to his forehead which was glued shut, the court heard.
Mr Oarith said people - including Johnson - called the police who arrested Johnson at the scene, but then let her go.
Emma Martin, defending, said: "She's desperately ashamed of what she did. She is desperately embarrassed and remorseful."
Mrs Martin said her client had struck the boy but was unclear as to the mechanics of how it happened.
She said her client had received "terrifying" online threats as a result and had since moved house and changed jobs.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised a charge of causing actual bodily harm to be brought against Fay Johnson.
Following concerns voiced by the victim's family, a review was carried out and found that the attack was not racially motivated.
Chief Inspector Mike Buck said: "While we've found no evidence to suggest race played any part in the police decision to take no further action, we've listened deeply to the concerns and issues raised by the victim's family and the wider community, and we'll use the lessons from this investigation in the ongoing work we are doing under the National Race Action Plan – which is central to our mission to become an anti-racist organisation."
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