Bushey boy, 7, discovers knife in Father's Day gift

Harvey Wilson was taking part in the Father’s Day “Secret Room” activity at Little Reddings Primary School in Harcourt Road, Bushey, on June 13 when he managed to purchase the gift containing the blade. 

Each year the school accepts donations from parents and staff so the children can purchase presents for Mother’s and Father’s Day, paying with their own money. 

Harvey, who lives in Forest Walk, Bushey, bought a set of mini golf clubs the school said was donated by a parent, but he did not know it contained the knife until he opened it in front of his mother, Lisa-Marie, when he got home that day.

Harvey’s grandmother Janet Afford, 49, of Cotswold Avenue, Bushey, said: “He brought it home and opened it in front of his mother and then she discovered the pen knife.

“Harvey had a big meltdown. He has autism and he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t have it. 

“He bought it for himself because he doesn’t have much contact with his dad and he was very angry. I tried to calm him down. 

“I’ve got the knife. I will ask the police what to do with it as I don’t want it lying around.”

Janet and Harvey 

Harvey paid £3 for the golf set, money given to him by his mother, Lisa-Marie, 28. She said there was a label on the item which “clearly stated” there was a knife inside.

She said: “I gave him money to choose a gift instead of him feeling left out - his dad is not in his life.

“I collected him from school and he told me he had a present in his bag, so I said, ‘let’s open it at home’.

“He unwrapped it and I looked at the box and said, ‘let mummy look’. It clearly stated on the box “knife” and I told him ‘you can’t have this it’s not for children’. 

“He didn’t understand why he couldn’t have it. He had a complete meltdown. I tried to explain to him that he shouldn’t have been able to buy this. He just thinks he’s bought a gift from school.”

Lisa-Marie went on to say she thought it was “absolutely disgusting” Harvey was able to buy the gift containing the knife, adding: “The school have a duty of care to our kids ensuring there is health and safety.

“If it wasn’t my child it could be someone else’s.”
Harvey’s grandmother, Janet, contacted the headteacher at Little Reddings, Carly Simmonds, to ask how this happened.

Janet said: “I am quite angry. I said they can’t buy it in the shops, so they shouldn’t be able to buy it in school.”

Janet said Miss Simmonds told her she would speak to the people who donated the golf set and Janet phoned the police on June 14. Harvey’s mother has filed a complaint with the school. 

In response to the incident, chair of Friends of Little Reddings, Julie Evans, said: “FLR are extremely sorry this happened. We have had to change our policy on accepting donations and will be buying all gifts in future.

“We want our Secrets Rooms to continue as it gives the children so much fun in choosing their own gifts and raises funds for their Adventure Trail." 

In a letter published to parents by Miss Simmonds shortly after the event, she said each gift giving day raises around £400 for outdoor activities for the children, adding: “The golf set was inside a sealed box, fully wrapped and sent straight home and was in no way a danger to anybody in school.”