When a bus stop was smashed up, Arthur Ord's stomach sank when he realised his teenage son was the culprit.
But he then did something most parents would never dream of.
In an extreme act of tough love, Arthur outed his 13-year-old son as a vandal - on Facebook.
Sharing a picture of the teen at the crime scene, the 51-year-old apologised, adding: "I've not brought him up this way".
Parents have now heaped praise on the single dad, who admits the decision was agonising but states: "He needs to learn.
"He's had a couple of little scrapes recently and I need to do something to slow him down before it is too late."
"I won't allow him to run away and hide from what he's done, not on my watch.
"He is at a very impressionable age, and I worry unless he gets a hard lesson, what will happen?
"When I was young, you went over the knee and got a proper a*** slapping, but now you have to find another way as (parents) hands are tied by the law in so many ways."
So Arthur's unique approach to discipline resulted in him posting on a local Seaham Facebook page, where last Thursday night's incident occured.
"I feel so embarrassed and ashamed that he would do this," he admitted.
The response was overwhelmingly positive from parents who said they had "total respect" for the dad's actions.
"Don't be ashamed," replied one.
"if anything you are the one parent that can hold his head high. It Is the parents that cover for there kids that should be ashamed."
And another called it "parenting at its best".
Durham Constabulary officers interviewed the son on Saturday following the incident on Seaton Lane.
"We received a report of a bus stop window being damaged on Seaton Lane, in Seaham," said a spokesperson.
When the youngster returned, Arthur admits the lad "had a bit of cry and a 100% grilling" after his dad collared him about the offence, while the punishments are being dished out at home too.
"He is not out for a good month and he's going to be kept away from Seaham for quite a while," claimed Arthur, a painter and decorator by trade.
"He has no Xbox or internet either.
"He tried to say it was already smashed, but he couldn't lie straight in bed.
"Sometimes they need to be punished from the police just to scare them. I'll end up paying any fine, but he needs that authoirty.
"Sometimes it is the softly soft approach and it allows them to carry on.
"I didn't put it on to shame him - I put it on because he should be punished.
"Even though it is your own kid, you are not doing them any favours by protecting them."
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary added: “A 13-year-old boy was interviewed by officers and admitted causing the damage.
“He will be referred to the Youth Offending Service.”
