Moorebank High School: Student’s mother slapped pupil in response to bullying claims

A teenage boy is “fearful” to return to school after being slapped and shoved by a fellow pupil’s mum on the grounds of a southwest Sydney high school.

A woman has been charged after she slapped a child inside Moorebank high school. Picture: Frank Violi

A teenage boy is “fearful” to return to school after being slapped and shoved by a fellow pupil’s mum on the grounds of a southwest Sydney high school.

A woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to common assault after she confronted a 13-year-old student who she believed bullied her son.

Agreed facts tendered to Liverpool Local Court state both the woman’s son and the teenage victim had “recent friction”, which spread to their respective families.

After a verbal stoush between the victim and the offender’s family members, the victim approached the offender’s son at school the following day and said he “didn’t want drama near his home”.

About 10.15am the same day, the offender was granted access to the grounds of Moorebank High School, entered the canteen area and walked directly to the victim, pointing and yelling, in front of 20 students and a teacher.

A mother slapped a student inside Moorebank High School. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“The woman stood directly in front of the victim and shoves him in the chest with her hands a number of times, causing the victim to retreat backwards … she follows and continues to gesture and shout at him,” the facts state.

The woman’s son ran towards the student and “shaped up” before repeatedly throwing punches.

“The woman pushed the victim back forcefully and slaps him two times with her open hand to his upper body,” the facts state.

A teacher separated the two boys as the mother attempted to hit the young student.

Police arrested the mother at her home and while in police custody told officers she “pushed the victim and that these actions were unreasonable”.

“Police are appalled that the accused has the propensity to enter school grounds and assault the victim at a place where students should feel safe and protected,” facts state.

The woman’s lawyer said her client was a devoted mother who felt her child was “not safe” at school due to reports of bullying and was looking to transfer her son to another school.

Magistrate Gareth Christofi said the woman’s actions were “out of hand” due to what she believed was a “campaign of bullying” inflicted on her son.

“She made attempts at school to address the situation but made no success,” he said.

“She has remained tortured by what has occurred … she has written an apology in which she is deeply ashamed by what she has done and gone against the values she’s instilled in her kids.”

The woman was found guilty and was sentenced to a 12 month conditional release order without conviction.

The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.