Mum of autistic boy who had nail impaled in his head agrees to go ahead with restorative justice punishment

Earlier this week, your Chad reported how nine-year-old Romeo Smith, from Mansfield, had a plank of wood thrown at him by an older boy, which stuck him in the back of the head.

His mum Natasha, 30, said she has been walking home from her mother’s house with her three other children, which is just around the corner, and Romeo had lagged slightly behind.

However, when she entered the house she realised Romeo was not behind her so his father Craig, 35, went to check on him.

Craig found Romeo minutes from the family’s home, trapped in a tree by three boys who were brandishing sticks and calling him names.

As his dad approached, Romeo came down. However, as the pair walked away one of the boys picked up a plank of wood – which had a nail attached to it – and threw it, causing the nail to piece the skin at the back of Romeo’s head.

Natasha intially agreed to the plan, but then said she thought more should be done due to punish them, as two of the boys had shown "no remorse".

She said: “One of the boys has come round and apologised which was great, and Romeo felt a lot better. But the other’s have shown no remorse. It’s like they don’t understand the seriousness of their actions. “I’ve got children myself and I know if they had done something like this and the police were involved they would be terrified, but they don’t seem to care at all.”

According to the Council for Restorative Justice: “Restorative justice brings those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for the harm into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.”

However, following a futher discussion with police she has decided to go ahead with the procedure.

She told the Chad: "The lads can speak up about why the bullying took place and ensure it won't happen again."