Letter: Haunted by shopper's attack on child

Correspondent • Published 21 Feb 2010 09:00 0 Comments

I visited Reading this weekend with my two young children and we spent our last day enjoying a shop at The Oracle followed by lunch and a film.

My perfect day was turned on its head at 11.15am when our paths crossed with a furious parent or grandparent of a teenage girl and two younger ones.

He was admonishing the girl loudly and aggressively which was shocking and humiliating for her.

The situation got out of control - he ended up with his hands around her neck and in the foyer of the Riverside Car Park, hollering at her so loudly I could hear it from the other side of the bridge.

He then was physically abusive and I could stand it no longer and I left my kids outside Bella Pasta and marched over to the man, pleading with him to calm down, that they were children, he was the adult, and that as he didn't care for what I was saying I would put the situation in the hands of the CCTV and the police. I phoned Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505 this evening and a sympathetic lady noted the event.

I am left completely haunted. How could someone get so irate with three kids at 11.15am and be in such an uncontrollable rage?

Was it a one-off or are those poor kids subject to that every day? Who were they? They seemed lovely kids and she was a well spoken girl.

I have spent the days since upset and distracted; I wish I had dialled 999, I wish I knew the girl was okay, I wish kids didn't have to tolerate that kind of terrifying mental and physical abuse. I have donated £25 to the NSPCC to try to somehow make the slightest bit of difference.

Grace Eckersley, Cheshire

* PARENTS can get help and support, and a listening ear by calling Parentline Plus, a 24/7 advice line free from landlines and most mobiles on 0808 800 2222 or visit www.parentlineplus.org.uk

Youngsters can call Childline free on 0800 1111 for someone to talk to in confidence or visit www.childline.org.uk

Reading Children's Information Centre at 6 Queen's Walk, Reading town centre, RG1 7QF has information about services available to families. Call 0118 950 9499.

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