Lapland new Forest elf attacked by irate parent (From Bournemouth Echo)

Lapland new Forest elf attacked by irate parent

8:48am Wednesday 3rd December 2008

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AN ELF has told how she was attacked by an irate parent at Lapland New Forest.

Emma Craven, 30, from Bear Wood, said she was slapped across the face by a mother queuing for the Santa’s Grotto with her two daughters.

Mrs Craven said: “A man approached me and asked how much longer it would take and I told him about an hour from the position I was stood at.

“He got irate, used colourful language and grabbed me. I pushed him away and his partner then rammed my leg with the buggy.

“She lost her temper and was screaming ‘Look at what you’ve done to my kids’. Her two young daughters were cold and wet.

“And then she just slapped me around the face, across my right cheek. It stung like hell because it was freezing cold as well.

“I was devastated– I’ve never been slapped before.”

Mrs Craven went to get a security guard but the family had fled by the time he arrived.

Sue Holzher, managing director of Richards Events in New Milton, said they had withdrawn the 25 members of staff – including Mrs Craven – from the attraction due to safety fears.

She said: “We can’t expect people to take constant abuse and do not want to put their safety at risk.”

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