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.
The best approach is to begin to help and bring in other adults as they become available.
Then again, I tend to underestimate kid's ages, so she might've been six or seven.
Well, 7 would be a real surprise - let's just say 4-6! LOL
Hindsight is perfect, eh?
I understand.
Years ago my wife and I had a 3 year old foster daughter. We took her to a park one day and she walked in front of another kid on a swing and got kicked in the chin causing her to bite her tongue.
Not a terribly serious injury but she just wouldn't stop bleeding. We took her to the emergency room and I was holding her, we were both covered with blood and it looked terrible. She was calm by then and the nurses wanted me to step out of the room. I knew the purpose of that, they wanted to ask her if the big bad man had abused her.
They had to call it quits in that effort because every time I got out of her sight she wouldn't stop screaming for me and they were unable to question her because of it.
If IFS and BUTS were HOS and SLUTS we'd all have AIDS.
This was truly a horrible decision by the guy.
People are crazy and times are strange I’m locked in tight, I’m outta range I used to care, but things have changed.
(Bob Dylan Things Have Changed)
The mother acted kind of like I was crazy. That was before cell phones and reporting everything to child protective services.
I used to get away from my mother a lot when I was little (hyperactive), and kind strangers always "rescued" me. Once they stood me on a display table in a department store where there were a lot of people milling around. Finally my mother spotted me among the fuss. Even at that young age, I was embarassed.
It is horrible that it has come to this. A little girl fell through the bleachers at a race (I saw that happen once myself at a stock car race) and was bleeding badly. My son grabbed her and ran with her to an ambulance he had seen near the entrance of the track. I suppose that is different, but I think the father (who was kind of stunned) didn't know what to do and appreciated the help.
He knows how careful he has to be because I drummed it into his head when he was still at home. With women it isn't quite as bad, but it is still a problem.
I did follow up on it and found out the girl had been with some group of kids in a car and had evidently wandered off a couple hours earlier when the rest went up to a door, along with the chaperone. Then, they drove off without realizing the girl had fled and couldn't find her when they went back soon thereafter.
As for when she was up on my deck, she pretty much cried the whole time so all I got out of her was that she was alone and lost, which was easy enough to see anyhow, not that I cared to ask many questions to begin with. I just wanted it to go away with minimal drama. :)
PS. I really do like kids; I'm just not stupid..
A personal story. Several years ago my wife and I went to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to see the plume (?spelling). We were with friends. There was a little girl near the rushing water crying she was lost. I picked her up, sent my wife and friends ahead and behind to see if they could find her parents. Her father came to me and looked at me hatefully. He took her from me, turned and walked away, never saying anything to me. I am a grandfather, blessed with 10 little ones, and I would be reluctant to help now. I know I would but I would still be concerned!
About 20 years ago I was involved in coaching kids in Junior Olympic track and field. These days with false accusations, insinuations, and the like, I would be insane to participate in such an activity these days. Trouble is there are child molester types actually involved in "coaching" activities (anyone in Houston remember Bob Nash from cycling?), so when these child molesters get caught, it casts a pall on all the other adults legitimately involved in coaching kids.
Look again. This incident occurred in England. The presumption of innocence is a feature of U.S. law. Under English law you must prove your innocence.
There seems to be a lot focus here on the passer-by and not the staff.
thank goodness you didn't take him into your car. you'd be doing 10 years right now.
I believe it.
Today I stopped myself from looking for more than a second at a couple of cute five-seven year old kids, probably brother and sister, for exactly that reason. Didn't want their Mom to think I was some kind of pervert. Satisfying my mild curiosity about the kids was not worth the potential downside.
I would love to know what percentage of the population really are child molesters.
Isn't that only in libel cases? I thought in general we shared a common law tradition and most of the same values with England.
well, no man wants to face the wrath of the judicial system for a crime he didn't commit. just the allegation could wipe you out personally, and financially, to prove your innocence.
Sad but understandable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.