When The Real Story Doesn't Make The Cut...

A father who armed himself with a baseball bat and assaulted a 13-year-old at a shopping centre has avoided jail.

What?!

Poppy, 35, of The Chase, Billericay admitted assault by beating, possession of an offensive weapon in public and intent to cause harassment alarm or distress.

It is understood Poppy stormed down to the shopping centre following an altercation between two teenagers.

Ah.

We aren't given details. But I suspect it wasn't just an argument over football cards or which of the 'Bash Street Kids' is the best...

Naturally, the other parents (mother, not father, note) is OUTRAGED! at the lack of justice for her spawn:

The victim’s mother said: “People are always going on about protecting children but I don’t feel enough has been done in this case.

“He has done this to my son and just walked away.

“I think it is awful.

“It has left a lasting impact on my son and he is very upset following the attack.

“He keeps checking around him to see if the man is coming back again.

“He doesn’t want to leave the house or go to socialise with his friends at all.

“He used to do kickboxing but now he doesn’t want to do it at all.

“I was not told about the court date and I feel as a mother I should have had the chance to look this man in the eye and say how dare you do this to my son.

“My poor baby has been disfigured by this man, he has been left with a scar on his mouth.

“He had to have an operation and have his mouth stitched up.

“This man has destroyed any dreams my son has about kickboxing, he was so good at it and could have got so far.”

Well, that's destroyed any street cred this little wannabe might have!

He was sentenced to four months for the assault, four months for the possession of the baseball bat and a month for the intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

However all sentences will run at the same time and all were suspended.

And that's just the icing on the cake!