Father in the dock for slapping boy who tried to glue granny to toilet

A father, Terence Llewellyn, who smacked his son for trying to superglue his grandmother to the toilet walked free from court. Terence Llewellyn lost his temper after the prank by seven-year-old son Kai and hit the youngster’s arm hard enough to leave bruising. The 46-year-old, who has raised Kai alone since the death of the boy’s mother in 2007, was arrested in February last year after witnesses spotted the bruises.

But he was spared jail after Manchester Crown Court heard tat Llewellyn had been living ‘in harmony’ with his son following the intervention of social services. Llewellyn’s mother, then 86, was said to have been ‘amused’ by the stunt. But he said: ‘I was extremely annoyed by this and over-reacted, assaulting him to the arm. I accept on occasions I have used physical actions to correct Kai. I no longer use physical methods to control my son.’


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Parents are legally allowed to smack their children – but any action that leaves a mark is not considered ‘reasonable chastisement’ and can lead to charges of common assault or worse. John Kennelly, defending, said the case had been a ‘success story’ because Llewellyn had changed his ways. ‘There are now no concerns for Kai and the case, as far as social services is concerned, is closed,’ he added. ‘Alcohol played a leading role in the difficulties that led to Mr Llewellyn’s inappropriate methods in dealing with Kai. The defendant has not consumed alcohol since – a considerable achievement for a man with his problems and background.’

Judge David Stockdale QC said Llewellyn felt ‘genuine remorse’. ‘It’s a very serious state of affairs when a man’s correction of his own child, then seven years of age, is so excessive as to amount to a criminal offence which comes before the crown court,’ he added. Llewellyn, from Beswick, Manchester, admitted assaulting Kai and was ordered to serve a 12-month community order and attend a Probation Service ‘New Direction’ programme.