Woman vows to keep son in ‘line of sight’ amid court of protection hearings
A woman has promised to keep her son in “line of sight” when he leaves home while a judge considers whether public protection measures need to be put in place.
The man’s case is being considered at hearings in the Court of Protection, where judges analyse issues relating to mentally-ill people who lack the capacity to make decisions, in London.
Mr Justice Mostyn analysed interim issues at a preliminary hearing on Friday.
He heard the man was suspected of voyeurism and was on police bail pending further inquiries.
Council social services bosses with responsibility for his welfare want a judge to decide whether the man’s behaviour means he should leave his mother’s care and move into a specialist unit.
They say a judge should make decisions about what is in the man’s best interests and about how best to protect the public.
A further hearing is due to take place in July.
Mr Justice Mostyn agreed the man could stay at his mother’s home pending the next hearing after she promised to monitor him.
She said she would keep him in “line of sight supervision” when he was in the community, would make sure he was either with her or a carer when at home, and would tell police if he absconded.
Little detail about the man’s mental health problems emerged at Friday’s hearing.
Mr Justice Mostyn had discussions with lawyers representing social services bosses and the man, and the man’s mother.
He said a key issue would relate to the man’s mental capacity to use the internet and social media.
Lawyers said a specialist would assess that.
The judge said the man could not be identified in media reports of the case.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Nick Ansell / PA Wire.
