Father takes umbrage with bullying

A ‘‘misguided sense of justice’’ drove a father to confront his young son’s bully.

Lower Hutt resident Jacob Ulu pleaded guilty to a charge of speaking threateningly after police withdrew a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in the Hutt Valley District Court on March 10.

Speaking in court before Ulu’s sentencing, Judge Chris Tuohy said Ulu was at his home in Park Ave at about 6pm on December 2 when his 13-year-old son came in and told him about an altercation he had with a man, about 18 years old.

Ulu drove to the person’s address, approached him and said ‘‘if anyone touched his son, there would be consequences’’, the judge said.

Defence lawyer Shanna Bolland said her client’s son was walking home from school when the older man threatened him so he told his Dad about it and that people had waved knives at him.

It was not the first time that young people in the area had trouble with residents at that house.

So ‘‘ through a misguided sense of justice’’ Ulu threatened the man to leave his son alone.

He worked fulltime and has three young kids.

Judge Tuohy said he wanted to ‘‘cut you a break’’.

‘‘ But you need to realise that you’re not the enforcer. And if your son is getting a hard time from someone then you take the lawful way about it which is go see the police.

‘‘Anything else can lead to trouble for you and your son.’’

The crime did not justify imposing the minimum 40 hourscommunity work.

Judge Tuohy convicted Ulu and ordered him to reappear for sentencing if called upon.

Speaking outside of court, a police spokesman said there was no easy answer to keeping children safe, but they could follow some simple rules to try and lower the risk of becoming a target such as travelling in groups.

Keeping cell phones and other valuables out of sight was important as was teaching children to be aware of dangers in their surroundings.

Children may not be aware of social circumstances so they were often best to stick to public places.

Parents should have a conversation with their kids to work out a safety plan. Ask them ‘‘ what would you do?’’ to teach them what to do in a bad situation.

That plan may include appointing a safe house on their journey home from school, or advising them to enter a shop or other public place.

The public could help by taking action against violence or those threatening children, possibly by letting them know you are about to call police.