Dad Cautioned For Slapping Daughter

A man arrested for slapping his teenage daughter may have had his working life destroyed as a result.

Jim McCullough, a community worker, was arrested when Jess, 13, phoned police because he hit her for banging a neighbour's window at midnight on June 30.

Mr McCullough has now quit soccer coaching and community work, which he has done for over 15 years, because he fears the police caution he received could prevent him from working with children.

The single parent, who has recently qualified as a security guard, said that he felt striking his daughter was "the only way" to get her to understand what she had done.

"Jess isn't bad, but some of the 13-year-olds who live here do use drugs and drink and I don't want that path for her," he said.

Mr McCullough told the Manchester Evening News that "she didn't appreciate the seriousness of it and if I had simply grounded her, it wouldn't have proved the point".

"I wish I had asked for my day in court rather than accept a police caution. That way I could have explained that I was trying to do what was right for my daughter," he said.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "When an offence is admitted the offender is always liable to receive a caution.

"Had the offence not been admitted, officers would have pursued the matter with the CPS. An allegation of domestic violence was made and GMP officers always take these allegations very seriously."

Mr McCullough had a previously clean criminal record but now feels his work prospects are "wrecked".

Jess, a year nine pupil at Parklands High School in Wythenshawe said she was "sorry" for what had happened.

"I did deserve the slapping because of the things I'd been doing," she conceded.

Mr McCullough has coached more than 500 children with the Benchill Town Community football team and did voluntary work at the United Estates of Wythenshawe community centre in Broadoak Road.

(DS)