On Sunday both BB and MLA were playing outside and trying to enjoy themselves. I say trying because the 6 year old boy next door had one his friends round and were tormenting BB and MLA and as per usual throwing stones at MLA.  After about an hour of this BB shouted on me to come out to the barn, and she was very insistent and loud. I immediately went out to see what her distress was and found my neighbour from hell (NFH) staggering up to the barn swinging a very large glass of white white that she proceeded to thrust in an aggressive manner to my children whilst shouting.

‘why can’t you all play together nicely’

BB told her no and so did I where by said under the influence neighbour spieled into a barge of abuse aimed at me. I did not answer but told the children to come indoors to get away from her and the abusive boys. I went in one entrance of the house the children unfortunately in the other. She then took her opportunity to abuse MLA, not BB who would have something to say to her but a vulnerable autistic boy.

‘don’t YOU want to play with the boys’ she slurred

‘NO WAY’ he shouted and ran in the house.

As he did so she scream at him

‘well your going to be a very sad little boy with no friends and only BB as a friend!’

This inappropriate to say to any child, or indeed any humane being, but to say this to an autistic child is nothing short of a disability hate crime. She knew full well that to say this to BB would not have the same impact and that MLA vulnerability would be attacked. Therefore she was aware of the impact her abusive statement would have and therefore despite her being drunk was a deliberate act of a hate crime.

I immediately called the police and reported a breach of the peace and after my statement was taken I was given an incident number which my solicitors say means that the incident was taken seriously and suspect the NFH received and police warning. Certainly by her loudness and her throwing of things round the house suggested more than a friendly chat took place. My NFH did herself no favours though because she was heard by BB shouting at the officers and the officer telling her to calm down, if she didn’t receive a warning regarding her abuse to me and MLA she would have done regarding that and just proved what I was saying about her demeanour.  Clearly they spoke to her about my complaint also to provoke such a reaction.

But this is not the end of the story. Whilst the police were at my house they received another call, yep from my NFH making a complaint about me!

I can only hazard to guess what it was about because the police didn’t come back and speak to me about and would not say what it was…child abuse again. The Police officers saw both children on Sunday and one officer even commented about what a lovely little girl BB was and very sensible and grown up, MLA they where not allowed to speak (their words) to because of his autism, that requires a specially trained officer. But needless to say they were both satisfied the children were healthy and well cared for.

After the call to the police I call the Anti Social Behaviour Team hot line.  They called me back within 30 mins and have passed my details onto the relevant office to start a file.  I am awaiting for a call back from them.

I spent much of Monday mopping up the fall out caused by my NFH by seeing my solicitor and telling him what happened.  I also took BB to see her guidance teacher at school as she was too frightened to go to school on Monday.  She received some counselling and was told to take at least 2 days for compassionate reasons.  The guidance teacher will also speak to all staff outlining the brief details and telling them to be on the alert for repercussions from any relatives of NFH at school.  If there are any they will be dealt with swift and severely, which my include involving the police. I was also assured that said guidance teacher would counsel BB through any court case that may occur.  I know this will happen at BB’s school as she has had problem with a bully at the school in the past and that was stamped at the first hint of any recurrence after the first disciplining of the bully.

I then went to the bus company that buses BB to school about picking BB up at another pick up spot when she returns to school.  They were very obliging and more than happy to accommodate this request.  The bus company is also very good when bullying happens as I have spoken to the driver regarding the bullying at school and the threats for it to spill out on to the bus journey to and from home.  The drive was more than happy for BB to sit in the seat behind him and ensure she was safe whilst the school sorted the matter out their end.

I also rang the social work team who wrote regarding the bogus child abuse report and asked if there is anything they can do.  They can’t and that is so maddening because if I had these things to my children they would be round like a shot after me but my NFH can say them and all I can do is call the police and hope they deal with it.  But still they are now fully aware of my NFH disabilism and the fact she is likely to make a further allegation of child abuse. But one thing they did tell me is I had acted in the correct manner and yes, the comment was wholly inappropriate and in their opinion a disability hate crime as she used MLA venerability to really hurt him emotionally.

I am content in the knowledge that I have done the correct thing in my reports and the agencies are pulling together to support not only myself but more importantly my children who should not have to be subject to someone else’s drunk display of aggression particularly in the very rural area we live.