An 18 month community order has been given to a father from the West Midlands area who admitted assaulting his seven-year-old on a visit to Caldey Island near Tenby.
The 45-year-old defendant, who cannot be named due to press restrictions, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on November 15 for a hearing, and was sentenced last week after magistrates heard a pre-sentence report from the probation service.
Magistrates heard that a number of witnesses gave statements to the police on what they had seen occurr on the island at around 11.30 am on Thursday, September 1.
One statement said that they had witnessed the accused stood outside the chocolate factory on the island being aggressive towards his son, with the father said to be shouting at the boy before being seen lifting him up with an outstretched arm by the throat, and then slapping him on the back of the head before frogmarching him away.
The defendant told police when interviewed that his son was being naughty at the time but that he hadn’t lifted him up by the throat and in no way had he intended to hurt him, but accepted that he had been unreasonable. The father also explained to officers that his son had ADHD and was on the autistic spectrum.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told magistrates that since the incident, a number of doctors and social services had outlined in their diagnosis specific medical issues the boy had, and that there was now something in place to help the parents.
After hearing a pre-sentence report from the probation service, magistrates gave the defendant an 18 month community order with 20 rehabilitation requirement days.
He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.