An occupational therapist slapped a four-year-old boy with learning difficulties up to 20 times in the face when he refused to put his shoes and socks on, a court heard.
German born Ramon Priess, 33, allegedly assaulted the child as the session at the Maximum Potential clinic in Devonshire Place, central London came to an end.
Priess claims he used ‘deep pressure’ techniques on the boy and the mother consented to the controversial treatment.
He denies assault by beating and appeared at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday wearing a red shirt and earrings.
Dami Eniola, prosecuting, said: ‘This dates back to the 3rd of April 2019. It was 12:12 in the afternoon.
Ramon Priess at Hendon Magistrates Court. He denies assault by beating and claims he used ‘deep pressure’ techniques on the boy
‘At the end of the session the boy was asked to put on his socks and shoes, he plays dead and does not respond.
‘Then it is alleged that Mr Priess slapped him, all in all, ten to twenty times.
‘It is alleged that he was crying at the time.
‘The mother was present and witnessed the incident.’
Giving evidence behind a screen the boy’s mother told the court: ‘It was just a typical session whereby my son did obstacle courses, handwriting, and did some activities which help his motor skills.
‘He sat on a swing, he got pushed around on the swing. There are obstacle courses where he has to jump down – soft play sort of equipment.
‘I sit down, observe, always.
‘The session always ends with the therapist encouraging my son to put his socks and shoes on.
‘Not only because it is the end of the session, but it helps his motor skills, because this is something he struggles with.
‘He didn’t want to put his shoes and socks on.’
The woman said her son was sat on the therapist’s lap with his back to Priess’ chest and was ‘deflecting’ the instruction.
‘He was pretending to sleep or to be dead.’
She said Priess repeated the instruction but the boy continued to play dead.
‘Initially, he said, ‘put your socks and shoes on.’
Hendon Magistrates Court where Ramon Priess appeared on Tuesday. The trial continues
‘He proceeded to say ‘come on wake up it’s time to go’, then proceeded to slap my son repeatedly across the face.
‘He cried hysterically.
‘The therapist’s slaps got harder.
‘I’m sat on a chair, I’m facing them.
‘I didn’t sit there and count but it felt like it went on forever. I would say, minimum ten times, maximum twenty times. But it was between those two figures.
‘Those slaps were so hard they made my son cry. He was in a distressed state.
‘I was in a state of shock, the words were at the tip of my tongue ‘you are hitting my son too hard’ but I was shell shocked.’
Asked if she mistaked the slaps for a ‘pat’, the witness said: ‘Absolutely one hundred percent they were slaps. He had marks on his cheeks, he cried all the way to his next therapy session, I could not console him.’
Kyah Mufti, defending Priess, said he did not slap the child but had used an uncontroversial ‘deep pressure’ technique as part of the child’s ‘sensory integration’ therapy.
‘The primary issue in this case is that the mother says he slapped the child and Mr Priess disputes that.
‘And in any event, what he was employing was a technique.
‘Had Mr Priess actually slapped this child with force, it would not be appropriate.
‘Deep pressure was applied on the cheek as part of the treatment.’
Addressing the mother Ms Mufti said: ‘The therapy session would inevitably require physical contact in order to aid (the boy) so he could enhance his skills.
The mother said the ‘deep pressure’ techniques she had discussed with Priess involved squeezing the child around the arms and legs.
‘They were never to do with the face.
‘You can’t do ‘deep pressure’ on the head,’ she added.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram told Ms Mufti: ‘If I find there is a slap, then your client has a problem. If I were to find it was a ‘deep pressure’…. or whatever term you have used, I don’t know whether that would be appropriate.
‘What we have here is touching with some force, it becomes unlawful when it is assault.’
Priess, of Bow, denies assault by beating.
The trial continues.