THE Perth man who was fined $1000 for slapping a neighbour's child has received dozens of emails from supporters offering to pay the penalty for him.

Retired research engineer and artist Derek Graham Roach, 62, pleaded guilty to common assault yesterday in Perth Magistrates Court for slapping his neighbour's eight-year-old boy.



In a case that has sparked debate and bears a striking resemblance to the book and recent TV series The Slap, Roach slapped the boy after being antagonised by a group of neighbourhood children who repeatedly rung his doorbell.

Roach's defence lawyer, Richard Lawson, told PerthNow his client had received more than 60 emails today from supporters, with many offering to pay his fine, and only two from those opposing his actions.



He said the police and prosecution were hoping the matter would be resolved before going to court, but the child's mother was adamant about pressing charges.



"I would say about 90 per cent of the community has supported him," he said.



"He's feeling better about the support because he's realised people are of the same sort of school as him."



Yesterday, police prosecutor Paul McKee told the court Roach, of Cottesloe, had been the subject of a "knock and run" game up to five times a week for two months.



On December 11 last year, he finally cracked.



The court was told the doorbell rang at 5.45pm and Roach opened his front door to see a group of children running away.



He called out to them to "cut it out", but 15 minutes later, the bell rang again.



Roach ran into a laneway near his John Street house and saw the eight-year-old boy, who the court was told had been put up to the prank by a group of older boys.



Sgt McKee said Roach grabbed the child by the shoulder and slapped him four or five times across the face.

Mr Lawson told PerthNow that his client, who he described as meek and mild mannered, was at the end of his tether and did not injure the boy.



"He didn't want to harm that boy," he said.



"He was so frustrated that he just grabbed him with one arm and he swiped his face and said 'don't do that again'."



Magistrate Graeme Calder fined Roach $1000 and granted a spent conviction, saying Roach had a clear record and had acted responsibly after the incident because he took the child back to his mother.



The incident bears an uncanny resemblance to Australian author Christos Tsiolkas' award-winning novel The Slap, which was turned into an eight-part television series.



The book explores what happens when a man slaps a three-year-old boy, who is not related to him, across the the face after he misbehaves.



Roach is a well-known beachside artist whose aluminium sculpture Time Frame exhibited at the 2008 Sculpture by the Sea on Cottesloe Beach.



It was bought by Alcoa for $22,000 and donated to the Town of Kwinana, who installed it outside its council offices.

Robertsonk@sundaytimes.newsltd.com.au