13 year old runs over wife's Porsche
Discussion
I'm surprised that you've been given a choice over whst happens with him. I expect you've misunderstood your options.
You're probably looking at a local resolution outcome, in which the kid will be reported for criminal damage and given a period of time to make recompense as you see fit. If that means paying for a repair, so be it. If this isn't paid in a time limit you're happy with, the next available disposal will be used.
Youth punishments are prescriptive, there are a few stages of youth cautions and out if court triage meetings to go through. Mind you, the last thing you want is for it to go to court. Whilst you might see some satisfaction in knowing the lad has been convicted, the court won't offer any real punishment unless he is a prolific offender (in which case you wouldn't have been offered a local resolution outcome anyway). You certainly won't get any money back for the damage if it goes to court.
You're probably looking at a local resolution outcome, in which the kid will be reported for criminal damage and given a period of time to make recompense as you see fit. If that means paying for a repair, so be it. If this isn't paid in a time limit you're happy with, the next available disposal will be used.
Youth punishments are prescriptive, there are a few stages of youth cautions and out if court triage meetings to go through. Mind you, the last thing you want is for it to go to court. Whilst you might see some satisfaction in knowing the lad has been convicted, the court won't offer any real punishment unless he is a prolific offender (in which case you wouldn't have been offered a local resolution outcome anyway). You certainly won't get any money back for the damage if it goes to court.
I tend to agree with a bit of what everyone has said.
First off I would be to talking to the parents. Explaining I was going to get a quote to have all the repair work done to whatever standard you want. Full Porshe dealer or SMART repair, whatever you want.
Then send them the quote and offer 7 days for full payment. Failure to do so and you will prosecute, go through your insurers and reclaim excess and "damages" for increased premiums through small claims.
Second option is a PITA but might force them into option 1.
Not as serious but next doors daughters boyfriend swiped the back on my wifes car getting off their drive. Sent him a quote for £180 for a local SMART repair, he whinged for 5 minutes and then paid up when I suggested we talk to his insurers and discuss with his GF's parents when they return form holiday. Same principal, two options, one less painful.
As to the lad getting a record, in some respects, that's a life lesson.
First off I would be to talking to the parents. Explaining I was going to get a quote to have all the repair work done to whatever standard you want. Full Porshe dealer or SMART repair, whatever you want.
Then send them the quote and offer 7 days for full payment. Failure to do so and you will prosecute, go through your insurers and reclaim excess and "damages" for increased premiums through small claims.
Second option is a PITA but might force them into option 1.
Not as serious but next doors daughters boyfriend swiped the back on my wifes car getting off their drive. Sent him a quote for £180 for a local SMART repair, he whinged for 5 minutes and then paid up when I suggested we talk to his insurers and discuss with his GF's parents when they return form holiday. Same principal, two options, one less painful.
As to the lad getting a record, in some respects, that's a life lesson.
21TonyK said:
Then send them the quote and offer 7 days for full payment. Failure to do so and you will prosecute, go through your insurers and reclaim excess and "damages" for increased premiums through small claims.
In law, you can reclaim the excess, but not the increased premiums. Talk to the parents and see how they go on. If they won't play ball (which IME with little f
kers like that they won't, they're the reason he thought he would get away with it) then get a court judgement for the repair bill / excess and instruct bailiffs to seize goods to the value. Getting his iphone, PS4 and laptop legally removed will teach the bd far more than any court action.
kers like that they won't, they're the reason he thought he would get away with it) then get a court judgement for the repair bill / excess and instruct bailiffs to seize goods to the value. Getting his iphone, PS4 and laptop legally removed will teach the bd far more than any court action.Collectingbrass said:
Talk to the parents and see how they go on. If they won't play ball (which IME with little fkers like that they won't, they're the reason he thought he would get away with it) then get a court judgement for the repair bill / excess and instruct bailiffs to seize goods to the value. Getting his iphone, PS4 and laptop legally removed will teach the bd far more than any court action.
Agree - this is the correct way.kers like that they won't, they're the reason he thought he would get away with it) then get a court judgement for the repair bill / excess and instruct bailiffs to seize goods to the value. Getting his iphone, PS4 and laptop legally removed will teach the bd far more than any court action.little cooonts
boyse7en said:
Yes, that's irritating but a fact of life. Same as my premiums increased when somebody tried to break into my car, and when someone drove into my parked car and buggered off.
It's not the same though, is it. This kid got caught, he's his parents responsibility at that age, they should be paying. If someone gets away without being caught, and the damage is too much to bear the cost of, then you have no choice but to involve the ins. co. I can't see any reason for that to happen in this instance. The worst case scenario should be that if the parents can't afford to fix it, the op has to claim and the kids parents pay for any increase in premium at renewal time, but if it was me, I'd baulk at that.It'll be the way it usually is, the owner of the car suffering the damage will be sidelined because of the political correctness nonsense towards kids that breeds this type of behavioural crap. Whereas, in reality, a slap and unpleasant consequences are what's required.
Decky_Q said:
Can threatening legal action unless you pay up be construed as blackmail?
I wouldn't think so. The OP is entitled to take legal action to recover his losses so it's not really a threat, it's just an option. If he offered to break the little darlings legs and ruin his budding professional football career if they didn't pay, that would be blackmail IMHO 
Thanks for your replies,
Lots to think about.
The car is with Porsche now, they are going wash it and inspect the damage and give me a quote to repair the damage.
Yes it would be best to speak to the parents, however as yet the police have not come back to us since the indecent yesterday afternoon despite the promos of a phone call before the day was out.
To try and answer some of the questions,
The lad was quite, did not put up much of fight and was not "cocky" or "mouthy" i got the feeling that he knew he was in trouble.
I can not contact the parents as i dont know who they are, however this took place outside of our business (a shop) so one would hope that they would come and see us ? but i really dont hold my breath to be honest.
To be honest i dont hold much hope with the police contacting me, i believe it will be me who does the chasing here.
I have found the lad via Facebook and in turn have found his parents who look to be separated so the broken home bit is there.
I will wait for Porsche to come back to me with a quote and then chase the police if they have not contacted me first.
I know things like this happen in life, believe me i have had cars stolen, keyed, windows put in, house broken into, air con units stolen off the roof, workshop broken into ETC ETC ETC but at no point have i ever ever had any recourse, now i have actually caught someone it is a meek 13 year old.
Lots to think about.
The car is with Porsche now, they are going wash it and inspect the damage and give me a quote to repair the damage.
Yes it would be best to speak to the parents, however as yet the police have not come back to us since the indecent yesterday afternoon despite the promos of a phone call before the day was out.
To try and answer some of the questions,
The lad was quite, did not put up much of fight and was not "cocky" or "mouthy" i got the feeling that he knew he was in trouble.
I can not contact the parents as i dont know who they are, however this took place outside of our business (a shop) so one would hope that they would come and see us ? but i really dont hold my breath to be honest.
To be honest i dont hold much hope with the police contacting me, i believe it will be me who does the chasing here.
I have found the lad via Facebook and in turn have found his parents who look to be separated so the broken home bit is there.
I will wait for Porsche to come back to me with a quote and then chase the police if they have not contacted me first.
I know things like this happen in life, believe me i have had cars stolen, keyed, windows put in, house broken into, air con units stolen off the roof, workshop broken into ETC ETC ETC but at no point have i ever ever had any recourse, now i have actually caught someone it is a meek 13 year old.
chippy348 said:
I know things like this happen in life, believe me i have had cars stolen, keyed, windows put in, house broken into, air con units stolen off the roof, workshop broken into ETC ETC ETC but at no point have i ever ever had any recourse, now i have actually caught someone it is a meek 13 year old.
Have you considered moving?!!majordad said:
Sorry situations, keep us posted..
A sorry situation indeed. The trouble is that even if the parents say 'yeah we'll pay' expecting a bill for a few hundred - when the quote from Porsche turns up at 10k for a new roof the greatest likelihood is that they simply cannot pay it. It will go back to the the youth offending team who will recognise this and offer the excess or similar as the best compromise.Id like to think a different outcome would be the case but...
E36GUY said:
Have you considered moving?!!
Like you Guy i commute to work, most of the mentioned issues occurred at work as did the incident yesterday. Home is a different area. My point is the Police have never caught anyone either through lack of evidence or just because they "don't have the resources" this time we have someone and he is a 13 year old,
Even though we have had our fair share of crime i have never let it affect me, still have nice cars, nice bikes etc not flash just never let the thought of someone trying to take things from me or damaging them bother me, i just do my best to protect them.
chippy348 said:
Yes it would be best to speak to the parents, however as yet the police have not come back to us since the indecent yesterday afternoon despite the promos of a phone call before the day was out.
Was this who attended?
Good luck getting it sorted, hopefully cash and some justice will be involved.
Dangerous Dan said:
Problem I see here is the parents - most likely they will support their sprog regardless. Punish him? Nooo, he's a promising footballer etc. 
chippy348 said:
Thanks for your replies,
The lad was quite, did not put up much of fight and was not "cocky" or "mouthy" i got the feeling that he knew he was in trouble.
If the lad was as you describe, he's learnt a certain amount of respect for elders (and potentially the consequences of being in trouble with the Police) and he's learnt that from someone, most likely one (or more) of his parents. As for approaching them, I'd probably hold back. If they don't approach you first, cap in hand with their son by the ear, they aren't the sort of people that will accept advice from you about how their son should be raised, nor will they likely agree to help pay for the damage. You could just end up in a confrontation that doesn't help anyone.The lad was quite, did not put up much of fight and was not "cocky" or "mouthy" i got the feeling that he knew he was in trouble.
I'd be hugely and rightly pissed off, but I think you have to accept it wasn't a personal attack against you, so don't feel victimised.
Yeah, the kid needs to learn about cause and effect, but there probably isn't really any outcome that doesn't leave you out of pocket or very disappointed in some way. Going through court will be probably be very time consuming for you and as others have stated will probably leave you feeling let down anyway if the lad just gets a slap on the wrist.
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