By DAVID SCHOUT
A NARRE Warren
South father has been fined for taking his daughter’s problems into his
own hands and slapping a school bully over the head.
Dandenong Magistrates Court heard that Stephen Voukidis, who owns
and operates a Frankston pizza shop, intervened after his daughter was
involved in a school fight at Narre Warren South P-12 College. It was
claimed she had been teased and abused by a group of girls.
Fed up with his daughter being bullied, Mr Voukidis approached one
of the girls outside the school grounds when he walked his daughter to
school on November 8 last year.
Police said he argued with the 14-year-old girl and ending up
hitting her across the head with an open hand.Others at the school
broke up the fight.
Magistrate Fiona Stewart was not impressed when she heard the evidence last Wednesday.
“You know why kids bully? They see adults acting like that,” Ms Stewart said.
“This is not how you remedy things.
“I accept there’s been serious provocation here and he is a
well-meaning parent trying to protect his daughter . . . (but) even a
foul-mouthed person, you can’t whack them.”
Mr Voukidis said he had moved his daughter to another school and Ms Stewart praised him for being “proactive”.
Police said Mr Voukidis had one prior conviction for assault. He was convicted of assault and fined $550.
