Family and Friends Forum

Oh how awful for you all. I have no advice but I totally feel for you. My person was in court on Monday. Guilty plea. I'm waiting for any reporting of this to appear. Did they print a photo. Sending you a hug x

Deep breath you can do this I've read lots of people say there was no backlash at all so you may be worried about nothing. Stay strong and sending you warm thoughts.

This happened to us first time round. They printed everything, including the photo and the road name where we lived with our children. We lost all friends. My son, who was 12 at the time had a good friend but once the mother found out, she forbid her child to even speak to my son. I was so angry. My older children who were at university, their friends were so supportive, not just to my children but also to me sending food parcels and treats. They were so sweet. I'm about to go through this all again though with sentencing in a few weeks time. I'm paralysed with fear about it going in the press again. I wish you all the very best. X

I think it's all of our worst fears isn't it? It's seems so unfair. My heart goes out to you..no real advice other than perhaps to lay low, take any precautions that you can - perhaps inform police that your mum is vulnerable?

Remember that you haven't done anything wrong. News ages quickly. But I appreciate right now this isn't particularly helpful.

Hoping it goes away quietly for you.

X x

My heart goes out to you and your son as I remember how me and my son felt each time his story was in the media. My advice is to come off social media and to avoid reading the comments. My son's case first hit the media 18 months ago and I have never read the comments so have no idea who commented.

We live in a small place and my sons story was extensively read and shared but we didn't receive any backlash at all. Yes some people my choose to blank him if they see him but that's as bad as it's been.

My child's case was also in the media. Our house was under special protection by the police. The police told us to expect the worse. We live in a very small community. We spent night after night sitting up, awake, anticipating goodness knows what. We expected the worst. There were a great deal of keyboard warriors on 'Fakebook', but nothing said face to face. We found out who our true friends are....and found friends we didn't realise were real friends...people we knew who reached out to us voluntarily with sympathy and compassion. Some of our family still can't face going out and about in our local neighborhood, but every day we are getting stronger. Most of us are back in work, college etc. We are 5 months post a suspended sentence. Community service is due to be completed in the next few weeks. There are a long 10 years ahead of a SHPO, but life is already so much different to 5 months ago....when we thought our world had ended. Life will never be the same again....but there is a glimmer of hope that we are past the worst. I'm guessing I just want to say ....when we thought life was over....it wasn't. We are getting through it. Keep going, keep hoping, there is a life to be had. Love to you all....this group has kept me sane...ish! Lol! Xxx Thank you. Xx I couldn't be doing it without all of you. Xxx

I can sense the anguish in your post I was in your situation just a year ago and thought i would never get through it all, here we are though sentence spent no more police supervision, we got a ring doorbell which was the best thing I ever did gave me so much relief knowing if anything did happen it was on camera we had nothing, there were keyboard warrior of course but these people now look away from me I hold my head high, my daughter is in high school one pupil made a comment but the school were on it immediately and so were all her friends, she just did her prelims 4 as and 2bs, my oh lost his Job after media attention but got a new job 1 month later and is now team leader in less than a year, there is hope please don't give up xx

Hi MJ

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I must say this one of my many great fears - media exposure. I was a little comforted that he doesn't live with us anyone and I thought our address was safe, only to learnthat they publish the address of where the offence took place. I'm now terrified. My child doesn't deserve the possible backlash and neither do I.

I really hope this blows over for you as the others have described. I'm hoping it's so for all of us.



Take care and please let us know how you get on



Hx

Friday was the worst for us I deleted social media at that point what I didn't know about I couldn't worry about if you know what I mean social media is toxic

the media and social media are more.toxic and make these situations a million times worse, if there are any threats made please contact the police xxx