Hi
My son has been caught in the same way, although the circumstances were different.
He had a row with his stepmother. She is on edge due to the breakdown of her marriage. She became hysterical, threw a cup at my son, then phoned the police. They arrived just as my son threw a cake at her.
He was arrested and then felt EXACTLY as you described. He declined legal advice because he didn't know it was free and money is an issue. He was advised to accept a formal caution and told there would be no consequences as the caution would be held in the police station for a year and that would be that. On that basis he accepted the caution.
We have now discovered this is rubbish. My son's Caution is already on the police database and will remain there for his lifetime! The caution will come up if he needs an advanced disclosure and if he wants to visit America.
My son is in that position and now may loose his job. There is no appeal as he accepted liability.
We have been to an MP and are currently awaiting the outcome.
This is all about the Soham Murder Trial, when police were criticised for quashing a caution against Ian Huntley. They will not now quash a caution.
We have heard of a nurse who got a Caution for letting her road tax go out of date. She is appealing because she is looking for a job and now cannot get one.
I believe lots of people are going to be caught out by this ruling and I think the only way to remedy this dreadful situation is for all interested parties to work together.
If you would like to contact me about this, please email me at
[email protected]