Sorry but what on earth has getting attacked a few years ago got to do with not intervening with very obvious child abuse. Seems a bit of a stretch to me.Too long to screenshot but:
Hi folks! Firstly I'd like to thank the admins for letting me into the group.
Secondly I'd like to express our sincere condolences to the Hughes family for the loss of little Arthur and the difficult circumstances they must be going through.
And finally I'd like to say a little about our daughter Affy, 'The Hairdresser'. While you might think it's obligatory for me to defend her I can only say that if she wasn't such a sweet, kind, lovely person I would just stay silent and say nothing. We already have the best relationship a father and daughter could have so I have nothing to gain from doing this.
Affy has been somewhat vilified online. While we can understand public anger I feel it necessary to point out that she is not the criminal on trial here.
A few years ago she got assaulted by a man who left her with a cracked skull, black eye, and other injuries. The case went to court and his solicitor did a great job in twisting events by demolishing her on the witness stand. The guy walked away free. She was left not only injured but traumatised by the experience. So for her to not want to get involved, while to you may have been unforgivable, to me it was understandable because we lived with her through it. I'm not making excuses, just reminding those reading this that at every moment we are the leading edge of our experiences...and every action or non action is shaped by those events.
So when after much soul searching she announced that she was going to help the prosecution despite being made aware of the effect it could have on her life, we were totally surprised. It was so very brave of her!
Unfortunately the press in court only gave the juciest items out for public consumption so you've all been left to, somewhat inevitably, fill in the gaps and make assumptions about people's actions and conduct, many of which are incorrect. Eventually those will be spoken of.
But in the meantime, Affy is a wonderful mother to our 2 beautiful grandchildren who both adore her. Go easy on her, and others like her. Don't put future witnesses off taking the stand in other cases. The police have told us to inform them of anyone who maliciously attacks her as she was a key witness, promising action. We hope never to have to do that.
Thank you.
Sorry but what on earth has getting attacked a few years ago got to do with not intervening with very obvious child abuse. Seems a bit of a stretch to me.
Sunlifeover50
VIP Member
If the hairdresser and her partner were both there and they were acting like they were, why on earth did they not ask them to leave? I could not imagine someone coming in my home with their child and screaming “c***” at him whilst he stood up for 6hrs and me just cracking on doing her hair. Sorry it’s just not normal.
Somerset girl
VIP Member
I’m sort of involved with children’s services and it makes me so angry the children who have been failed due to the lockdown. Whatever you believe about Covid, there is no doubt (in my mind) many more have died due to side effects of the pandemic than died of Covid.
Nora Fenn
Chatty Member
I haven’t been able to read the whole thread as this story has reduced me to an emotional wreck. So much so me and my husband came to the decision last night that we’re going to enter the adoption process. We already have 4 kids but if we can give even one child a home and allow them to grow up knowing they’re loved then I feel like we owe it to Arthur.
Sweet dreams darling boy, no more pain and suffering xxx
Sweet dreams darling boy, no more pain and suffering xxx
Sunlifeover50
VIP Member
I can’t imagine spending 6 hours doing someone’s hair with a little boy stood facing a door and then having them all back the next day to finish it off. How is that right?
GobShyte64
VIP Member
What the hell is all that? "she didnt give a 2nd thought to Arthur, taking drugs, staying in an abusive relationship" is that victim blaming I detect? Are you blaming a battered woman for staying with an abusive partner because her son died? Have you read the case on his mum? He beat her up and raped her a few times, she had defensive wounds on her body where they were obvs scrapping and she tried to fight back, grabbed the knife and stabbed him in the leg. What was she supposed to do? Let him kill her? Her and Arthur would have been fudged either way - her winding up dead and him ending up with his dad, or her ending up in prison and him ending up with his dad.
Justamother
Active member
This case has devastated me to the point of breaking down every time I look at my 6 year old! I can’t fathom how any adult can treat a child in this way and the fact it’s happening so much more frequently, hearing his little voice saying saying no one loves me is horrific but hearing him saying no one is going to feed me hurt on another level no child should ever go without basic needs and at the hands of his own parents is just unthinkable how that woman has other children but can treat a 6 yr old in this way I just can’t! I don’t believe a word about his behaviour because I think he would have been to terrified to misbehave I think he would have been more likely to try and please at every opportunity. The hair dresser and her husband make me feel sick! She said he stood against the wall for 6 hrs and answered in yes sir! And she went to bed that night knowing full well if that happened in front of her that worse would be going on behind closed doors! I think every one involved in this case witnesses to his treatment, social workers who failed him etc should all be jailed! His little face will haunt my thoughts and I’m so sick of seeing these things in the news when is something going to change to make sure things like this are caught in the early stages! People need to stop minding their own business and help! 
!
!As harrowing as the footage of Arthur is, I think releasing it is a good idea. The complete dehumanisation of abused children by their abusers is hard for most people to comprehend. We are distanced from it via media reports and usually photos of the child from a 'normal' pre abuse time. We are all potential bystanders, look at the disgraceful behaviour of the hairdresser couple.
By actually seeing that poor child , the reality of his abuse has to hit us hard. Thinking about abuse is not the same emotionally as actually seeing it. I hope that the release of the footage raises awareness and helps even one other child. The voice clip is harrowing in the extreme.
By actually seeing that poor child , the reality of his abuse has to hit us hard. Thinking about abuse is not the same emotionally as actually seeing it. I hope that the release of the footage raises awareness and helps even one other child. The voice clip is harrowing in the extreme.
Rippedjeanmaybe
VIP Member
Honestly I couldn’t care less about whether or not TH was abused, manipulated whatever by ET. He is a grown adult and he made his choice to hurt and abuse arthur. TH was old enough to know right from wrong and he chose wrong and he knew it.
Yes I can accept the story that maybe ET was a massive nasty bitch who controlled and manipulated TH, I can believe that she probably wore TH down by constantly moaning about Arthur and I can totally accept that she probably pushed and pushed TH to breaking point.
However, he chose to snap, he chose to hurt, torture and abuse his son. He was the adult and it was his job to protect his son, instead of being a pathetic excuse for a human and allowing this to happen, he should have walked away, or done anything other than abuse his son.
I hope they both rot, they make me sick. No matter what a child does or doesn’t do, you don’t ever treat them that way, they are defenceless children.
Yes I can accept the story that maybe ET was a massive nasty bitch who controlled and manipulated TH, I can believe that she probably wore TH down by constantly moaning about Arthur and I can totally accept that she probably pushed and pushed TH to breaking point.
However, he chose to snap, he chose to hurt, torture and abuse his son. He was the adult and it was his job to protect his son, instead of being a pathetic excuse for a human and allowing this to happen, he should have walked away, or done anything other than abuse his son.
I hope they both rot, they make me sick. No matter what a child does or doesn’t do, you don’t ever treat them that way, they are defenceless children.
bluecups
VIP Member
"Mr Richmond added: 'I have spoke to him and said this can't go on. He has instructed me to say that Arthur's remains, after a service with his family, must go to his mother's family for her to have a funeral and she must have control of his ashes. He does hope he can give Olivia a tiny scrap of peace.'
Errr.....what? How come TH is calling the shots and saying his family will hold a service first? He killed the poor child, this has fuck all to do with him and his family. He nor his family should have any say in Arthur's funeral arrangements.
thegirlscout
VIP Member
TH forfeited any rights to Arthur went he was complicit in his murder. Olivia is still his mother and should have the final say about the funeral arrangements. The Hughes family needs to back off, they have caused too many problems already.
cobette
VIP Member
I think the fact that she didn't have to keep Arthur under her roof, yet chose to, speaks volumes about her. She didn't abuse him because she resented the fact he was there, she abused him because she enjoyed it and because she got a kick out of it she refused to let him go and live the happy live he deserved elsewhere.
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Padparadascha
Active member
It's life with a minimum of 29 years before she can even be considered for parole.
And for parole you need to have accepted your crimes, and be remorseful.
So...
And for parole you need to have accepted your crimes, and be remorseful.
So...
Mrs_honestyx4
Member
Why are these terms like 'stepmum' used so loosely? They weren't married, she wasn't involved. She simply didn't even as a mum. Do not give her such a worthy name. My husband is a stepdad and is amazing. She's just a monster
And worse - there are two other children in the house playing, eating takeaways and ice creams, sleeping in a bed, doing normal everyday things.He knew real love before thishe had slept in a bed, he had cuddled his teddies, he had watched football with his Daddy. He *knew* this was not normal, that he was in danger, his life was at risk. And he was 6! Just 6