Posted on 03/21/2006 6:38:34 PM PST by iPod Shuffle
Man did not rescue child for fear of 'pervert' slur
ALEX CORNELIUS
A BRICKLAYER who passed a toddler walking alone in a village shortly before her fatal fall into a pond said yesterday he did not stop to help in case people thought he was trying to abduct her.
Clive Peachey, from Cornwall, told an inquest jury in Stratford-upon-Avon that he had passed two-year-old girl, Abby Rae, in his van shortly after 10am on 28 November, 2002.
This was just moments after the toddler disappeared from the Ready Teddy Go nursery in the Warwickshire village of Lower Brailes, according to staff.
Abby was found an hour later in an algae-covered garden pond and rescued by her mother, Victoria Rae.
She was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital by air ambulance but was pronounced dead.
Mr Peachey, of Liskeard, told the inquest he had passed the little girl as she tottered towards the road in High Street.
He said: "I kept thinking I should go back. The reason I didn't go back was because I thought people might think I was trying to abduct her.
"I was convinced her parents were driving around and had found her."
Mrs Rae, 36, wept as Mr Peachey gave his evidence to the packed hearing.
She had earlier read emotionally from a statement as she relived the moment she dragged her daughter from the pond.
Two nursery employees had gone into the garden during their search but told the inquest they did not see the pond because it was covered in green vegetation.
The inquest was adjourned until today.
Ditto to that !!
Excellent idea.
They see everything with ordinary citizens as a black-white scenario. And want to get brownie points for running us in.
So, what is the best way to deal with these Rambo wanna-bees? To remind them that they work for us? Or is this a lost cause, are we already living in a police state? If so, how can we minimize inconvenience wtihout surrendering all of our liberties? Do we need to each of us carry around some lawyer's business card, ask the confronting officer "Are you detaining me against my will?" and sue those who do? Any suggestions? Could you have gotten his name and badge number, and found ways to make life miserable for him? Or is that a contest the typical citizen can never hope to win?
Old news. LOL.
bttt
BTTT
We do not have a cell phone and never intend to own a cell phone.
We would stop and help a child if we thought they were in danger by going to the closest building with a phone and call the police.
I can see where it is possible that if this man did help he may have been accused of something and if he had a wife and children they would also suffer after the story appeared in the newspapers prior to discovering he was not a pervert.
Reading it reminds me of when I was shopping in a Mall in Norfolk. As we were walking thru we almost passed a young woman with four children ages 2, 3, 4 and 4. She looked at me and asked if I would like one or two. No thanks I said, I only like the kind I can give back. She looked so frazzled, I truly felt sorry for her.
Looking back on this makes me wonder if she realized that I was harmless and was just making conversation. I am a great grandmother.
You did the right thing and in a very smart way.
So far -- thru the first 50 responses -- no one has mentioned the neglect of the day care staff and are placing all the blame on the man.
I would like to think that I would have reacted differently, but since all men are considered potentials rapists and child molestors, I might not have gone beyond making a phone call and keeping an eye on the girl.
Yup. I find myself constantly evaluating situations to make sure I don't find myself in a scenario that could be misconstrued. For instance, I run, and when I do I avoid running on the path through the community's playground unless I see adults present lest some kid gets hurt or abducted and someone reports that they "saw this guy in the playground with those kids earlier". Sad that this is the first sort of thing that comes to mind these days, but that's where we are.
Bookmark
Had that happen, too. Turned out she went out the back door while her family went out front door. She thought they'd left without her. She knew her parent's phone number (but couldn't dial it, she was so shaken. Dialed 'em up and her mom was there thirty seconds later.
When I was 8 years old, I saw some movie on Wonderful World of Disney about this kid leaving home and walking across the desert. Looked cool.
So, I decided to run away from home.
I took a couple of friends of mine and we got as far as the Pizza Hut 6 blocks away. We hung out there for hours, until way after dark.
Some kind lady asked us what we were doing there, three 8 year kids and it was almost 9:00 pm. We told her we were going to run away as soon as we could figure out where to go.
She hustled us into her car and made us tell her where are houses were, and she took us home.
That was 1968. Not a chance in Hades anyone would dare to do that today.
Not a chance.
Are people "judgmental" like that in England? Isn't everything/anything ok?
I never gave kids much thought until my first daughter was born 14 years ago. She was such a joy, I just fell in love with little girls.
I adore the little critters, and watching my daughter and her friends play was so much fun, and such a refreshing change from the hectic cut-throat career world.
But, I simply refuse to be seen watching kids play in public. It isn't worth the stigma.
At the pediatrician's office a few months ago, these precious little girls about 3 years-old were playing with some of the toys in the waiting room, and I started watching them and got sentimental about when my girl was their age. I got lost in the moment, and caught myself after a minute, and returned to my magazine.
Thank goodness no one saw me.
When my son was in elementary school, and I did my share as chaperone of many school trips....
..his teacher (who was revered, trusted and loved) told me the teachers had been told 'hands off' with these little kiddoes.
No hugging, no touching...etc.
I was once on a schoolbus trip and a small child fell asleep and was about to fall into the aisle...
..not one teacher went to adjust her or cuddle her....
..so I did.
This has what it has come to!!!---Life has gotten very ridiculous!
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