ABDUL NAVAEI FROM EXETER SLAPS 5-YEAR-OLD BOY IN PAIGNTON PUB PLAY AREA AND RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE
In a disturbing incident that took place in the soft play zone of a pub in Paignton, Devon, Abdul Navaei, a 37-year-old warehouse operator from Exeter, was involved in a violent assault against a young child.The assault occurred on December 5, 2015, and has since garnered significant attention due to the brutality of the act and its emotional aftermath.
According to court reports, the incident unfolded around 2 pm at the Flagship pub in Paignton.
An off-duty police officer present at the scene witnessed Navaei entering the play area and immediately grabbing hold of a five-year-old boy.
Witnesses described how Navaei then struck the child with considerable force, slapping him across the face.
The force of the slap was so severe that the young boy was knocked backwards onto the ground, visibly shaken and distressed.
The officer recounted that Navaei had told the child, “You do not hit,” before bringing his right hand back and delivering the slap.
The sound of the slap was audible to those nearby, and the incident caused immediate concern among the gathered parents and children.
Police were promptly called to the scene, and Navaei was arrested shortly thereafter.
The five-year-old boy was visibly upset and shaken, with red marks on his cheek, and was taken to Torbay Hospital later that evening due to concerns of a mild concussion.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Edward Counsell detailed the events, emphasizing that Navaei had consumed four pints of lager that day but was not considered intoxicated at the time.
The court heard that the assault was committed in a crowded area filled with other children and their parents, heightening the severity of the incident.
The young victim’s mother, who requested anonymity to protect her child's identity, delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement.
She expressed her profound distress, stating, “This attack was every mother’s worst nightmare.
I have never felt such emotion.
It has been a nightmare.
I am so angry.
How can any adult assault a child?
It makes me feel sick.” The boy’s grandmother also shared her concerns, revealing that her grandson has been suffering emotionally since the incident.
She explained that he has been sleeping in her room for twenty consecutive nights, waking up screaming, shouting, and having nightmares.
She added, “He constantly says, ‘I just want to forget about the bad man,’” highlighting the lasting trauma caused by Navaei’s actions.
In court, Navaei expressed remorse, apologizing to the boy’s family for his “moment of madness.” Despite this, he was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for twelve months, for the charge of common assault.
Additionally, he was ordered to undertake unpaid work and pay £100 in compensation to the victim.
The family and community remain deeply disturbed by the incident, emphasizing that no apology can undo the harm inflicted on the young boy and that the sentence does little to ease their pain.
