Jeff Brazier asked fans for advice on a “parenting dilemma” after his youngest son Freddie spent £40 on purchases within a computer game without asking.
The former Shipwrecked star told fans that Freddie, 13, had a friend round for a sleepover, and they’d been playing popular computer game Fortnite in the “man cave” while he was next door.
And Jeff was left unimpressed after getting an email saying £40 worth of purchases had been made on his credit card that was linked to the computer.
Jeff told fans: “Obviously I’m disappointed and I’ll make it so that he can’t do that, can’t buy things or spend money on my card without permission.
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“But in terms of punishment, what do you lot reckon?
“Being grounded for a day? Is that enough? Being banned from Fornite for two weeks? That on top? Would you take the money out of his bank account and the stuff I’ve saved for him?
“What would you do? I’d be interested to see everybody else’s perspective on this one.”
Plenty of parents chipped in with their opinions, with people saying they’d tried all three things: grounding, banning from the game and having to pay back the money.
Jeff later returned to social media to reveal he’d gone for options one and two: grounding and banning.
He shared a photo of a Trivial Pursuit game board alongside the caption: “Oops look what happens when you ban Fortnite and devices! You get family time.”
Oops look what happens when you ban fortnite and devices! You get family time. 👊🏻💥 pic.twitter.com/L5Fym1nVF5
— Jeff Brazier (@JeffBrazier) May 28, 2018
The star then added within his daily ‘Gratitude’ run-down: “I’m grateful to have dealt with Fred’s little Xbox mistake (spent £40 on Fortnite without asking me) in the most constructive way.
“Teenagers make mistakes & if we help them see the error & what they could have done differently there’s a good chance it won’t happen again.”
Jeff added: “I’m grateful that a group of Fred’s friends came over tonight and all sat with him out on the terrace on the sofas. If it wasn’t a grounded day they could have stayed longer!”
The television presenter is also dad to son Bobby, 14.
He’s raised the two boys alone following the death of their mother, his ex-girlfriend, Big Brother legend Jade Goody, in 2009.
Jade died from cervical cancer on Mother’s Day.
Jeff trained as a life coach and grievance counsellor and has always tried to keep the boys out of the spotlight; it’s only in the last year or so, as they’ve grown older, he’s shared more images and videos with fans.
The two boys will serve as joint best men when Jeff marries his fiancée, Kate Dwyer, later this year.
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