Father charged after slapping child at Kids Mania indoor playground, Villawood

A father told police he slapped a seven year old across the face “out of frustration” during an altercation between his son and another child at an indoor play centre in Sydney’s southwest.

Kids Mania indoor play centre at Villawood.

A father told police he slapped a seven year old across the face “out of frustration” during an altercation between his son and another child at an indoor play centre in Sydney’s southwest.

A 39-year-old man from Lewisham, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, pleaded guilty to common assault after he smacked a child’s forehead inside Kids Mania indoor playground at Villawood on April 17 last year.

According to agreed police facts, two siblings aged seven and 11-years old were inside the play centre throwing foam balls and blocks near the father and his one-year-old son.

“During this time, the victim threw a foam block towards his friends where it accidentally hit the man’s son’s head and the victim saw what happened and apologised,” the facts state.

“The man quickly checked on his son and made sure there were no injuries before he approached the victim and used his right palm and slapped the victim’s forehead.”

Kids Mania indoor play centre at Villawood

The child felt “immediate pain and discomfort” before running to his mother who reported the incident to staff who “immediately dialled for police assistance”.

Agreed facts state the father made “full admission that he used his hand to hit the victim’s head after frustration” after police stopped him while driving on Seville St, Villawood.

“Police obtained video statements from the victim … (who) told police that the incident made them feel sad and dizzy,” facts state.

Magistrate Stuart Devine told the father his behaviour was unacceptable and he would have “no hesitation” to impose a conviction and “bring you back to my court” if his actions were repeated.

He was sentenced without conviction to a conditional release order for 18 months with an additional condition to comply with a mental health plan from his general practitioner.