Dad Visited By Police After Posting Facebook Photo Of T-Shirt Bearing 'Threatening' Message

Dad Visited By Police After Sharing 'Threatening' T-Shirt Photo On Facebook
|

A dad was shocked when two police officers were sent to investigate a photo he shared on Facebook showing a slogan T-shirt.

Martin Gillingham, 47, posted a picture of the T-shirt bearing a slogan which read: "I may seem calm and reserved, but if you mess with my kids I will break out a level of craziness that will make your nightmares seem like a happy place."

Underneath he commented: "I think I might wear this to the next parent's evening."

But Gillingham was amazed when two police officers knocked on his door and told him they were investigating the "threatening" message after an anonymous tip-off.

He said: "I posted this picture of a T-shirt as a laugh. I thought it was quite humorous, and having had trouble with the school before I added the comment 'I think I might wear this to the next parents evening'."

Open Image Modal

Gillingham believes the school reported him because he had previously clashed with teachers at Matravers School in Westbury, Wiltshire, over the education of his autistic son.

Describing what happened, he said: "I posted it a couple of weeks ago, on 24 May, then on 9 July I had a knock on the door and it was the police.

"The officer who attended told me that a complaint had been made about a picture on my Facebook profile.

"The complaint was that it was a threatening message, and had pictures of guns on it."

Open Image Modal

Gillingham added: "It's ridiculous, everyone can see it is a joke.

"The police officer wouldn't tell me who had made the complaint, but I think it was a teacher at my children's school.

"The police aren't doing anything about it, as far as I am aware.

"The officer came across as apologetic. I understand it's normal police procedure so they have to investigate it, but even the officer who visited me told me he thought it was nothing more than banter."

Gillingham lives in Westbury, with his wife, Lisa, 47, and their five children, Jordan, 21, Joseph, 16, Jamie, 15, Samuel, 11, and Bethany, seven.

He claims problems with the school began when they decided to "hide away" his son Jamie during an Ofsted visit.

Gillingham believes that Jamie and three other children were moved to a mechanics class to stop them causing "disruption" in front of the inspectors.

Open Image Modal

He publicised the incident in the local media and believes the school is seeking revenge.

"It appears the school are trying to punish me for going to the press," he said. "But I was only doing what was right.

"I think the school are being vindictive, because I put in a complaint.

"I don't think they like me because I am outspoken and raise problems when I see them.

"I think they are trying to find a way to discredit me."

Open Image Modal

Matravers School

Simon Riding, the headteacher of Maltravers School, said they were not prepared to comment on the claims made by Gillingham.

In a statement he said: "We have a clearly accessible and transparent complaints policy which we always encourage parents to use when seeking to resolve a concern.

"As a school it is vitally important that we focus our time on the education of our students."

A spokesman for Wiltshire police confirmed they visited Mr Gillingham's address after a complaint was made, but a spokesman said that no further action was being taken.

Working Dads
(01 of20)
Open Image Modal
今日は、子供たちと一緒に、電話会議です。 (credit:Jonna Thomas)
(02 of20)
Open Image Modal
夫は毎朝、午前6時に起きて、私たちの赤ちゃんにごはんを食べさせてくれます。その後、赤ちゃんを抱っこしながら仕事をしてますね。そのおかげで、私はあと1〜2時間、5歳の上の子が起きてくるまで眠れます。 (credit:Rho Edmunds)
(03 of20)
Open Image Modal
「行ってらっしゃい」はつらいけど、「おかえりなさい」は大好き。 (credit:Crystal Lohman)
(04 of20)
Open Image Modal
「ITの未来」 (credit:Diana Pickinpaugh)
(05 of20)
Open Image Modal
パパ1年生。 (credit:Amber Kae)
(06 of20)
Open Image Modal
パパは週40時間をトラック店で働いています。休日も自宅で、友だちや隣人のために車の修理などをしています。「今年の夏は、2人の小さなアシスタントもいます」 (credit:Amie Bullis)
(07 of20)
Open Image Modal
私の夫は、「ワークデー」に息子を連れていきます。 (credit:Tracy Davis)
(08 of20)
Open Image Modal
仕事していたパパ。……しばし中断です。 (credit:Althea Tuaño Aswani)
(09 of20)
Open Image Modal
夫は、12時間の夜勤明けの後、子供を公園に連れて行きました。きっと寝たかったと思うんですが、子供との時間を作っていました。 (credit:Ashley Dowdy)
(10 of20)
Open Image Modal
赤ちゃん、運転席でニッコリ。 (credit:Chloe Stanton)
(11 of20)
Open Image Modal
仕事の後に、子供と一緒に残業しちゃいました。 (credit:Heather Tomlinson)
(12 of20)
Open Image Modal
夫はアメリカ軍で働いています。家では新生児を抱っこしながら仕事してたりします。 (credit:Jennyfer Myrick)
(13 of20)
Open Image Modal
休日は、娘と一緒にバレエのレッスンへ。 (credit:Jonathan Rodriguez)
(14 of20)
Open Image Modal
パパと一緒に消防訓練。 (credit:Monica Orozco-Cantillo)
(15 of20)
Open Image Modal
週末に息子の野球を応援するも、平日に仕事するのと同じくらい大切です。 (credit:Tiffany Barela)
(16 of20)
Open Image Modal
両手に花。 (credit:Liberity Bell Cole)
(17 of20)
Open Image Modal
平日に集中して働きます。忙しくても文句はいいませんよ。週末に家族で過ごしたいから。 (credit:Nick N Vanessa White)
(18 of20)
Open Image Modal
親子でロック! 親子でギター! (credit:Kristine Gibson)
(19 of20)
Open Image Modal
「なるべく多くの時間を過ごすようにしています」夫は、フルタイムで数学の家庭教師をしていて、多くの子供たちに教えています。息子にも思いやりをもって、事例をもとに教えてくれます。そんなパパを持った息子は……「良いお父さんになって」なんていえません。 (credit:Athina Marie Fascianella)
(20 of20)
Open Image Modal
「パパー! パパー!」3歳の双子の攻撃に遭いながら、パパはなんとか仕事を終わらせようとしています。 (credit:Laura Miller Haxton)