FLEETWOOD MAN DANIEL RIGG PUNCHES 3-YEAR-OLD BOY AND BLAMES MANCHESTER ARENA BOMBING

In December 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Daniel Rigg, a man from Fleetwood, who subjected a three-year-old boy to a violent assault while babysitting. The incident drew significant attention during a court hearing at Manchester Crown Court, where Rigg faced charges of cruelty to a child.

According to court reports, Rigg, aged 27 at the time, lost his temper when the young boy began throwing his toys onto the floor. Instead of calmly addressing the child's behavior, Rigg responded with aggressive physical violence, repeatedly punching the toddler in the legs. Witnesses at the scene observed Rigg's violent outburst, which culminated in him delivering a forceful blow that resulted in a dead leg for the child, causing him temporary difficulty in walking.

During the court proceedings, Rigg attempted to justify his actions by claiming that his behavior was influenced by the trauma of the Manchester Arena bombing, which had occurred in May of that year. He pleaded for leniency, asserting that life had been particularly challenging for him since his brother was injured in the terror attack. Despite these pleas, the court was unpersuaded, and Rigg was sentenced to 11 months in prison after admitting to cruelty to a child.

Judge Richard Mansell QC delivered a stern judgment, criticizing Rigg's actions and attitude. He stated, “It was nonsense for you to think that you could chastise a child in this way. This is the age when you are supposed to praise them – not hurt them.” The judge emphasized the vulnerability of the young victim, noting that Rigg, a family friend of the boy’s mother, had betrayed the child's trust and inflicted unnecessary harm.

An eyewitness who observed the incident described the scene vividly. The witness recounted seeing Rigg, who had previously identified himself as a former boxer, physically assault the child and verbally abuse him, calling him derogatory names such as “little t**t” and “a******e just like your dad.” The prosecutor, Andrea Lock, highlighted the severity of the punches, describing them as forceful enough to be intended for an adult, not a child.

The court also heard about the lasting impact on the young boy, who has since started school. His mother reported that he has become extremely clingy and anxious, requiring her to soothe him every time she drops him off at school gates. The judge remarked on the betrayal of trust, stating, “He trusted in you and you threw that back in his face. He was vulnerable. He was scared of your presence. If you went to pick something up off the floor he flinched automatically.” The judge condemned Rigg’s justification, calling it “nonsense,” and criticized his misuse of his physical strength, which he once claimed as a boxer, against a defenseless child.

Overall, the court’s decision reflected the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect vulnerable children from such violent behavior, regardless of personal circumstances or past trauma.