support required please

[harvsmum]

My relative, a teaching assistant has been falsely accused of sexual abuse by a 10 year old girl who he gave extra tuition to if she was struggling during a lesson. The rooms are all glass and they would be together for no more than 10-15 mins during which time a piece of work would be produced. There is no evidence at all but this is going to court and he has been told to get affairs in order. We are all devastated and don't know what we can do to support other than listen. Can any one offer any advice?

[Franticwithworry]

First of all, don't panic. I know that it's difficult, but keeping a clear head will be a great help.

You don't say if your relative has been on bail for any length of time, or if they have a solicitor already or if he's actually been charged or you are just sure that he will be.

To start at the beginning - it's important to have a solicitor who has experience of false accusations. There's a thread on the forum with suggestions but come and ask again if you need a recommendation more particular to where you are. There are good and bad private and legal aid solicitors. It's not essential to 'go private' to get a good service, but your relative really needs to have confidence in the person he instructs.

If he hasn't done it already, he needs to write down everything he can think of in relation to this pupil and everything about any time he has ever met with this pupil and keep it somewhere safe. It's not for the eyes of the police, no matter how much he is tempted to explain things to them. They are not his friend!

Tell us a little more about the situation and we will be able to help more. Not the detail of the accusation, necessarily, but things like - did your relative have a solicitor when he was initially questioned? Has he been charged? Does he have a court date? Does he still need a solicitor?

It probably feels as though your heads are spinning at the moment, but there is plenty of emotional support here. For the practical stuff, you need to tell us a bit more about where you are in the process and what you need.

[Rights Fighter]

PLease look at my signature with regards to a private / closed group, as you will be able to say more in there.

Also another group for Falsely Accused Carers and Teachers: FACT

http://www.factuk.org/

[Peter1975]

I'm sorry to hear this. Children can have over active imaginations and be easily manipulated. It is possible an adult has picked up on an innocent remark and the child has been swept away in a tide of moral outrage and panic. It is also possible that as a ten year old they knew exactly what to say to gain attention. Perhaps they watch the soaps at home and got ideas. They may have been trying to talk about someone else abusing them but named your relative instead ("perpetrator substitution") There are lots of reasons a child can make a false allegation. Have childline payed one of their helpful visits to the school recently?

Being told to get his affairs in order is not necessarily a bad sign, it is sadly a necessary precaution but children are usually inherently honest, a good barrister will coax the truth out of them and it is a myth that just because an allegation has been made by a child they will automatically be believed by a jury.

The most important thing is a good legal team and supportive family.

Hang in there

[harvsmum]

Thank you for your replies he did not have a solicitor when first questioned as believed that he had nothing to hide so didn't need one (obviously now we know better). He has court date in a few weeks time. It seems to be a case of her word against his but he is a shadow of his former self and literally sick with worry.

[Franticwithworry]

Not having a solicitor with him at the initial interview is something that many innocent people do for exactly the same reason. It's not a disaster.

Is the court date you speak of at the Magistrates? He needs a solicitor by then but the court hearing itself is just a formality and for the case to be moved to the Crown Court. There will be a lot of waiting around, probably, so he needs something to do while he's waiting, like a book to read, some change for a vending machine if he wants a coffee or a snack - not all the courts have cafes - and someone with him if possible for moral support. It's a good idea to dress smartly, but he'll likely be in and out in 10-15 minutes, having said nothing but confirm his name and address.

He'll have a chance to talk to his solicitor before and after and will likely have a meeting with him before the date anyway.

I strongly recommend that he takes someone he trusts with him any time he meets with his solicitor. Two sets of eyes and ears remember more than one. It's also a good idea to write down any questions and to take notes at the time. A good solicitor won't make promises they can't keep and will tell him the bad as well as the good.

I'm sure he's worried out of his mind, but he is going to get the opportunity to put his side of the story. If the worry is getting too much, please encourage him to see his doctor. There is help available if he needs it and make no mistake, a shock like this is a brain trauma that needs time and sometimes help to recover from.

He WILL get through it, and while it is one person's word against another's, the statistics show that there's a very good chance that a jury will see through the nonsense and come to the right decision. Browse the forum a bit and you'll find lots of useful information that I hope will help you and him keep some perspective and not be overwhelmed.

Good preparation, a strong legal team, and all the support we can offer you will get you through this.

[Rights Fighter]

I don't want to look "on the dark side" but should their be a charge, which area would any trial be in? I ask, as I might know of a specialist solicitor in the area.

[Lucky]

You should get a Solicitor sorted out as soon as possible.

There are lots of recommended ones in this forum

Depending on the area you are in, we can offer recommendations. If in London or its surrounding areas, go with Riz from Arcadian Law -02037509595 - they do private or Legal Aid.

If else where, just let us know and we will try and point you in right direction.

[Peter1975]

I would not trust Lucky as far as I could throw him or any recommendations that he makes.

No one apart from him recommends this particular law firm. His reasons for being here are extremely questionable to say the least.

The most highly recommended solicitors in the London area are Paul Legg of Freemans and Gerry McDonald of EBR Attridge. Both have been recommended by several former members.

[Rights Fighter]

I think that Gerry McD doesn't do legal aid trials any more. My first recommendation for LA sols for trials in or around the SE of England therefore would be

Paul Legg http://www.freemanssolicitors.net/si...file/paul_legg

This guy Harvey Fox http://www.freemanssolicitors.net/si...ile/harvey_fox

......arranges duty solicitors' interviews. He would ensure that a suitably experienced solicitor would attend.

[Lucky]

I would not trust Lucky as far as I could throw him or any recommendations that he makes.

No one apart from him recommends this particular law firm. His reasons for being here are extremely questionable to say the least.

The most highly recommended solicitors in the London area are Paul Legg of Freemans and Gerry McDonald of EBR Attridge. Both have been recommended by several former members.

correction - Arcadian Law have been recommended by multiple forum posters.
I have recommended Gerry in the past, he doesn't do much work anymore, and passes everything to Sannah
I have recommended Edwards Duthie, BCL and others to name a few, and I am the one of the only people who isn't on the bandwagon to recommend only 3or 4 ppl who are friends. I base my recommendation on results, not friendship.

You need to relax yourself, and stop spouting hate.

[Peter1975]

Perhaps you would be good enough to provide a link to these "multiple forum posters" apart from yourself?

While you are at it you might be good enough to reveal who you really are?

[Rights Fighter]

Oh dear. Here we go again. Lucky has diverted the OPs thread. He seems to have a habit of doing this. Would any mods or Admins consider putting him back on moderation again, please?

[Franticwithworry]

Done.

I'm sorry I didn't check that the infraction had lapsed before he did. He has complained to me about Peter1975's post but I've told him that I won't discuss anyone's accounts or behaviour with anyone but moderators, including his.

Hopefully this thread can now get back on track.

[Rights Fighter]

My relative, a teaching assistant has been falsely accused of sexual abuse by a 10 year old girl who he gave extra tuition to if she was struggling during a lesson. The rooms are all glass and they would be together for no more than 10-15 mins during which time a piece of work would be produced. There is no evidence at all but this is going to court and he has been told to get affairs in order. We are all devastated and don't know what we can do to support other than listen. Can any one offer any advice?

Just to bring the subject back to what it should have been before being hijacked by "Lucky"


Harvsmum, how are you doing today? Are there any questions we can help you with?