Am I guilty of anything?

[MrJamie18]

Hi! I need some help. Right, I'm 20...and last week I went the supermarket with my cousin and he brought his 9 year old next door neighbour. Anyway, when we were in the supermarket my tattoo that I had done a few days before was hurting so I went to the health aisle and I sprayed some Deep Freeze on it (yeah I know, not supposed to open stuff without paying). Anyway, my cousins next door neighour asked me what it was and I told her it makes my tattoo cool down because it feels like it's burning. She said "I wanna feel it" so I didn't think anything of it and I sprayed some on the back of her hand. Anyway, the next day her mum knocked and said that she has to go to hospital because her hand has swelled up. And, now she's apparently going to get the police to get me arrested and hopfully charged.

Can she do this? Because it wasn't anything sinister, I just sprayed it on her hand without thinking anything of it. :/

[Peter Pedant]

which one's got the swollen hand?

The nine year old ?

Your intention was to cool the nine year olds hand and this is likely not to have any criminal intent.

So the short answer is no.

Do you have any responsible adult you can discuss this with ? Parents/grandparents/uncles/aunts ?

In terms of the spray - theft of the spray (yes the small cloud of cooling stuff) or criminal damage - opening it and using it without paying. My view that this is peanuts.

Civil liability - The nighbour may  try to sue you in the civil court for damage to the child. Do you live in a house with house contents insurance - you will find that there is civil liability included in the insurance - which may or may not cover you.

Good luck - I think this will go away, but you've learnt one thing - not to spray neighbours kids with anything !

 

Oh, and when you see the 9 year old's parent - say your sorry for spraying the kid - it was a stupid thing to do , you're sorry and you wont do it again.

and DONT say - why are you making a big damn thing out of a small thing ?

good luck

[Andy008]

The short answer is no, you have nothing to worry. You were foolish to spray the stuff on her, without knowing whether she had any allergies, but i've more stupid things on many occasions.

The police would only become involved if there was a crime committed - i.e. ABH with intent, but since she asked to have it sprayed on her, you were not to no, and there was no intention to cause harm. The worst that could happen is the police might ask questions but it is very unlikely you would be arrested. If the swelling reduces the police will not be interested - if it was that dangerous they wouldn't sell it.

For future reference, don't as an adult male, go anywhere near a kid that isn't yours. Harsh it sounds I know, but in this compensation culture we live in it just is not worth the risk.

[MrJamie18]

Thanks guys, you've helped loads :-)

Peter, thanks for the advice.

Andy, funny you should say about staying away from kids because my mum said the same thing. Because she helped a kid who had fainted and got her mobile phone out of her pocket to get her parents number to call them and let them know what had happened. The parents sent the police to the house because they said my mum shouldn't have touched any of the girl's belongings. Kinda sends out the wrong message :/

Anyway, thanks :-)

[jno]

can't see the police spending much time on a swollen hand, they have terrorists to chase. Isn't there some Deadbeat Parents Register you can get this silly woman put on, for allowing her daughter to go out with an obvious Deep Freeze psycho like you?

[Peter Pedant]

God jno that is a bad-tempered answer to a reasonable question. We cant be wise for young people nor live their lives for them.

We have all done stupid things once - or twice which we then regret but which weemed like a good idea at the time.

[jno]

good grief, sorry MrJamie if I seemed as bad-tempered as Peter thinks. I was exaggerating, of course, because you actually sound perfectly normal and I can't think why the girl's mother is making all this silly fuss. Things turn out oddly sometimes - but calling in the police?? I was serious when I said I thought the police would have more important things to do. Apologies if I left the wrong impression or left you feeling any more worried than you were already.

[verong]

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

It is ultimately the mother's responsibility to make sure her child is being properly cared for.