Ex-serviceman escapes penalty after beating child with wooden rake
A decorated army veteran who left his teenage child with multiple welts and a shaved head has escaped a criminal conviction.
A DECORATED army veteran who left his teenage child with multiple welts and a shaved head has escaped a criminal conviction.
The father of four, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Richlands Magistrates Court he never intended to harm his child as he pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm with an offensive instrument weapon.
But Magistrate Stuart Shearer said he understood the need to discipline his child as he discharged him.
The court was told the man lost his temper at his 13-year-old son after finding out he had been suspended for fighting with students and using social media to promote school fights.
On June 11, the man confronted his son and hit him with the blunt end of a wooden handle, broken off a children’s toy rake, before shaving his son’s head.
Police prosecutor Shane Stephenson said the attack left his son with multiple welts on his arms.
On June 16, the man confronted his son while he was using the computer and became angry, hitting him with the back of his hand and the same wooden handle.
The child ran into the street and flagged down a passing motorist, asking for a lift to the police station. The father was later interviewed and charged.
“Undoubtedly this is an attempt at domestic discipline,” Sgt Shane Stephenson said.
“Regardless of my personal opinions, community standards have changed and this is out of line with the current community standards.”
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Defence lawyer Bruce Peters said his client, who served as a translator for the Australian Army until his discharge this year, was genuinely remorseful for his actions and had acted out as the son had been suspended multiple times for similar actions.
He said the father had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from multiple attacks and seeing dead bodies during his service.
“I suspect I’m on the side of your client for wanting to discipline his children,” Magistrate Shearer told Mr Peters.
“Part of the reason why things are going on are because of the lack of discipline of children and the lack of willingness from some parents to discipline their children.”
Reports detailing the father’s award-winning service with the army and his mental health plan were tendered to the court.
Addressing the court, the father told Magistrate Shearer his son had transferred to another school and he was now attending Headspace.
“When I was a kid it was normal to get the belt, I got it myself,” Magistrate Shearer told the man.
“Not necessarily with the end of a rake, but it was normal.
“There is a point at which children have to be disciplined, or else they don’t learn the right way to live, they don’t learn obedience, respect.
“It’s the use of a rake that’s brought you unstuck.”
Magistrate Shearer discharged the father with no convictions recorded.