Dad assaulted son with belt (Norwich, England, United Kingdom)

UNNAMED DAD is being held in custody after seriously assaulting his 14-year-old son with a belt. Dad was on the run from the police for over a year.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED21%20Sep%202009%2015%3A49%3A20%3A957

Father assaulted son with belt

ROB GARRATT
22 September 2009 06:30

A 37-year-old father is being held in custody after seriously assaulting his 14-year-old son because he stole a £10 note.

The man, an illegal immigrant originally from Ukraine, thrashed the boy's back and shoulders with a belt buckle and punched him repeatedly before fleeing when he was arrested by police - spending more than a year on the run.

The assault happened in the family home in Norwich last April when the son returned home too late for tea, and having taken £10 from his parents.

The father, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, took his child to a bedroom and took off his belt while the son prepared for his punishment.

But instead of whipping him with the leather strap as was “normal”, he used the buckle to strike his shoulder and upper back, before starting to punch the boy while he used his arms to try and protect himself.

When the boy went to school his teachers noticed the injuries and called the police who arrested the father and released him on bail.

But he fled the area and failed to report to Bethel Street Police Station on June 25 last year, and was not caught until over a year later on Sunday.

The court heard how the family used several names to avoid detection. Immigration services have been notified and confirmed that he will be deported as an illegal immigrant after serving time in jail.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and a second charge of dodging bail, at Norwich Magistrates Court yesterday.

After hearing about the extent of the attack magistrates ordered that he be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court because they say their maximum sentence of six months in jail is not enough.

Prosecuting Ben Brighouse said: “He's been at large for over a year. This was the assault of a 14-year-old. It's premeditated. It involved the use of a weapon and it was a prolonged attacked, not just one blow.

“And the most disturbing feature is that he does not think he's done anything wrong.”

In mitigation Rebecca Saunders told the court using a belt to punish children is common and accepted in Ukraine.

She said: “The son had been taking money and this wasn't the first time. But he is remorseful for what he's done and accepts custody is inevitable.”