How The Hell Can This Happen??

[magsmay]

I was gong to put this in Law section but nothing can be done so this is a Rant! The day before yesterday my very shy, quiet SIL answered the door to a neighbour who then invaded his home,beat him up to the point he needed Paramedics and threatened him that if he called the Police his friends would come around and finish him off. This was all over an alleged film my SIL was playing on the TV too loud. My Daughter did call the Police in Hysterics and they came around, took statements and arrested the Neighbour. the Police called SIL later that night -around 12.30am to say the neighbour had admitted to putting his hands on SIL shoulders but nothing more -and was given a Caution and released. This was despite SIL having marks all over his body, bruised ribs, huge red mark where the thug had knocked off his glasses , and a total wreck mentally. They are now frightened to go back home and are staying with us -what is with the Police!! They say they have no evidence it was Neighbour that caused the injuries -apparently daughters hysterical 999 call and Paramedics report do not count as evidence - this thug, who has 'previous' for GBH is smug in his home, my daughter and SIL are now having to look for another place to rent as they fear for their lives -just what on earth, or who on earth are the Police protecting?

[B00]

You serious?

This isn't the behaviour of normal people is it? This sort of thing only happens in films...right?

[DTCwordfan]

(i) go to a doctor and can get an assessment
(ii) take photographs immediately
(iii) go to a lawyer tomorrow and, at the very least, raise a civil assault case, and beef up the financial damages to the max, emotional damage being high on the list. Let the lawyer take it to the Police as to criminal and he/she should serve appropriate restraint orders.

[askyourgran]

I think nowadays the Police leave it up to the people involved to bring about their own prosecutions, the SIL should have photographs taken of his bruises. If the thug has been cautioned he should not be able to cross to their property and if he has previous that should have been taken into account, including the threats. The Police should have warned SIL not open the door to him. I don't blame them for not wanting to go back there, when they do they should call the Police if there is any hint of trouble from him or his mates, and buy a big dog.

[Iluvspikey]

This makes my blood boil, innocent folk hounded out of their own homes by thugs. a friend of mine had similar trouble, the neighbours complained my friends dog barked all the time (only whe somebody came to the door) and defacated on their path, (he was taken for a walk twice a day to waste ground so it wasn't their dog - in the end this thug went round to the house and when the door was opened he nutted him breaking our friends nose, he fell back and hurt his back on the telephone table and was off work for 4 weeks. the police were alled but didn't even come! My friend is a nervous wreck now and said everytime she see the neighbour she wants to run him down - then she'd be the one in trouble.

[lady-janine]

please take the advice given by DT. you all deserve not to be treated like this. good luck.

[magsmay]

@ Boo -in your life perhaps but in the real life -yes -it does happen unfortunately. Last year my son was assaulted outside a nightclub -his cheek was smashed to such an extent he has a metal plate in there now keeping everything together. It was totally unprovoked -he was on a fancy dress party night -girls and boys dressed as action man and barbie - someone thought son was in the forces and thought they would have a go - he did not fight back -luckily it was all on CTV and the thug is now going to be prosecuted.

[magsmay]

DT -thanks for the advice which was actually given to him by the Police - they can do no more as there were no independent witnesses to the actual attack and the thug admitted entering SIL's house but just shoving him up against the wall. A private prosecution would be more stress/money and would only result in a fine which would not be paid as they whole family next door are on benefits. Only one of the neighbours has the caution not to cross the property line -he has two grown up sons who could and probably will come over to the property and make threats. SIL and daughter are not going back to the house -it is one of our rentals and they are now staying with us until we can get them another place. i have had dealings with Police before and it seems they are only interested in 'soft' targets -and those people who regularly commit crimes know how to work the system.