Washington mother arrested after playground confrontation

Jul 30 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A MOTHER was arrested following a playground confrontation with children she claims were bullying her daughter.

Anisa Borsberry says she was handcuffed and spent hours in a police cell after the incident.

The 40-year-old said her ordeal began after her 11-year-old daughter Taylor arrived home in tears after being bullied outside school.

Mrs Borsberry maintains she did nothing more than speak to the children she says were involved, pleading with them to leave her daughter alone.

But, after the youngsters made allegations that she had thrown a girl against a fence at Lambton Primary School in Washington, the insurance worker was arrested by police.

Last night, Mrs Borsberry, who lives near the school in Lambton said she was shocked and embarrassed when she was handcuffed and dragged to a police van in front of a crowd of neighbours after parents reported an assault.

Mrs Borsberry says she went to the school after Taylor had returned home in tears having been called names outside the school gates.

She claims she asked the children she believes were involved why they were being nasty to Taylor and told a teacher what had happened. When she rang the school later to check how Taylor was, Mrs Borsberry said she was told the children had alleged she had punched a girl she had spoken to in the school yard and thrown her against a fence.

The accused mum-of-two said the school told her they then interviewed the children who had indicated they were withdrawing the allegations.

The next day, Mrs Borsberry was paid a visit by the police, handcuffed and taken to Gilbridge police station in Sunderland.

“I was dragged outside where, by this time, the whole street were out,” she said. “I was mortified, I put my head down.

“There were three police cars in my street and a police van. There were eight officers and more around the back of my house, I assume in case I decided to escape. It was like something from a film.”