Father shames ‘yob’ children on internet

A FATHER is so worried about his two children falling into a life of crime that he has named and shamed them on the internet.

Struggling single parent David Forward said his 16-year-old daughter Samantha and son Tom, 13, have been caught up in drugs, joyriding and yobbish behaviour.

He has now taken the desperate step of publicly humiliating them on the local community website in a bid to save them from spiralling into trouble.

The site for the picturesque Wiltshire market town of Malmesbury, which is normally home to older residents' nostalgic memories and notices of community events, is now full of essays by Mr Forward documenting his struggle with his teenage tearaways.

The pair were almost killed last year when they were passengers in a stolen car which crashed and overturned in a country lane.

Samantha was expelled from school a few weeks ago and admitted assault after throwing a plate of spaghetti over the deputy head teacher at her school.

Tom is well known to local police and has spent time in a secure unit.

Now former telecommunications assembly worker Mr Forward has posted his children's pictures and, more controversially, those of others he accuses of being yobs on the web.

He has also named and shamed a 19-year-old man, a convicted criminal, accusing him of being a "Fagin" character who has led his and other children astray.

Mr Forward, 47, said he has been let down by police, social services and local authorities.

"They have been caught up in the usual things drugs, theft, stealing cars.

"I did this as a last resort. I have tried talking to them, but they are so angry about so many things. Sometimes you have to push things to the limit. There are a lot of people trying to deal with things themselves and it's difficult on your own."

He said he did it because he cares and loves his children so much.

"I didn't want to just brush it under the carpet. It's easy to turn a blind eye to these things but they will get worse and worse. Soon it could be burglaries every other day and needles appearing."

Mr Forward said he has given up his job to keep a close eye on his children. Although he said there is not enough for young people to do in the town, he said everyone, including his children, should take responsibility.

On the site he says: "Children need to be force-fed standards, they need to be made to do right. British society is going to the dogs, all around us are foul-mouthed obnoxious children like my son. They are not the majority but a small minority who are destroying all that is good for others."

Wiltshire Police said they are concerned about creating disorder by such naming and shaming and would not discuss individuals' records. But local police admitted there have been problems with a gang of teenagers involved in robbery, vandalism, theft and drugs.