WTF?

One of the most unfathomable incidents I have ever come across was at a school in South East London about 12 years ago. Some money had been found to update playground equipment in the school's nursery playground. It was a project that went smoothly, and the youngsters were delighted with their new stuff, especially the wooden ship.

Then a little while later I got an interesting phone call. The school traditionally had a problem with vandalism during evenings and weekends, and several people had been arrested for smashing up the new equipment. The kids were heartbroken, and we were left feeling frustrated.

This is where it gets unbelievable.

One of those arrested was a man whose own daughter attended the nursery. 

Now I read about a woman who has been up in front of the beak for racially abusing her own children, and threatening to break their legs.

What on earth is wrong with these people? OK, a glance at look at the photo tells me a fair bit, and you have got to feel sorry for these kids for having this apology for a mother inflicted on them by fate. I wish them well, but the long-term prognosis is not good, is it? And what is this ASBO thing about? It is hard to imagine what a proper sentence would be in this case, but an ASBO?

Threatening and abusing children, smashing their toys out of spite, I cannot work out why any human being would want to do that. And I'm very glad that I can't.