Judge: Social workers delayed assessment of boy shortly before he was murdered
Council social services staff have admitted failing to carry out a planned assessment of a boy who was murdered by his father shortly after his second birthday, a High Court judge has said.
Drug dealer Raphael Kennedy, who is in his early 30s and from Northampton, was jailed in October 2018 after being convicted of murdering Dylan Tiffin-Brown.
Kennedy had denied killing Dylan (pictured), who died in December 2017, but was found guilty after a three-week trial at Northampton Crown Court.
He was given a mandatory life sentence and told that he would not be considered for release until he had spent 24 years in prison.
Mr Justice Keehan says staff at Northamptonshire County Council did not undertake a planned assessment of Dylan, his mother, and Kennedy, in October 2017.
He says an assessment was being undertaken at the time Dylan was killed a few months later.
The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, had given more detail about events in the months leading up to Dylan’s death after being asked to consider a number of issues centred on another child related to the little boy.
He has given a timetable of events over a 10-week period in a ruling, on the other child’s case, published online following a private hearing earlier this year.
Mr Justice Keehan, naming Kennedy in his ruling on the case, said Dylan can also be named in media reports and said Northamptonshire County Council was the local authority which had responsibilities for Dylan’s welfare.
He has not named Dylan’s mother, who is in her early 20s, in his ruling and says the child at the centre of the other case cannot be identified.
The judge was told how Dylan’s mother, who he said had a “very chaotic and damaging childhood” and was “extremely vulnerable”, had become pregnant after a one-night stand with Kennedy
Dylan’s mother had “introduced” her son to his father about 10 weeks before he died, the judge was told.
He began spending nights at Kennedy’s home shortly after being introduced.
A social worker assessment had been planned in October 2017.
The judge said Northamptonshire County Council “acknowledge” that they “failed to undertake an assessment” of Dylan, his mother and Kennedy “as it had been determined at a meeting they should do”.
He also said Kennedy had been arrested by police, while Dylan was in his care, about two months before the little boy’s death.
Dylan had also been seen with bruising and a lump on his head after staying with Kennedy.
On the evening before Dylan died, Kennedy had contacted his former partner to say the little boy was ill.
The judge said “very tragically” Dylan’s mother “took no action”
He confirmed a social work assessment was being undertaken at the time Dylan died.
Judge outlines events leading to murder of two-year-old Dylan Tiffin-Brown
Council social services staff have admitted failing to carry out a planned assessment of a boy who was murdered by his father shortly after turning two, a High Court judge said.
Drug dealer Raphael Kennedy was given a minimum 24-year jail term in October 2018 after being convicted of murdering Dylan Tiffin-Brown.
Mr Justice Keehan, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, had given a timetable of events leading to Dylan’s death after being asked to consider a number of issues centred on another child related to the little boy.
He has told how:
- Dylan was born on November 25 2015.
- Dylan’s mother had said another man was the father.
- DNA tests revealed that Kennedy was actually Dylan’s father.
- Dylan’s mother had told social workers how she had a “one-night stand” with Kennedy.
- She had been made aware of the DNA test results on September 29 2017.
- The next day she introduced Dylan to Kennedy.
- On October 3 she had allowed Dylan to stay overnight with Kennedy.
“On 4th October 2017, (Dylan) was seen with bruising after contact with his father,” said the judge.
No expert assistance or medical assessment was sought by the mother.
“On 19th October 2017, Raphael Kennedy was arrested by the police when (Dylan) was in his care.
“Some other person arranged for (Dylan) to be returned to his mother.
“Raphael Kennedy was held in police custody overnight and released the following day.
“Notwithstanding those events, he had overnight staying contact with (Dylan) on 21st October.”
The judge said at around that time a social worker had spoken to Dylan’s mother.
“Advice was given to ensure that (Dylan) was safe in the care of Raphael Kennedy,” said Mr Justice Keehan.
“Advice was given that the mother should contact the police to obtain information about the criminal past of Raphael Kennedy.
“She did not.”
The judge added: “I note that the local authority acknowledge that they failed to undertake an assessment of (Dylan) and the mother and his father, as it had been determined at a meeting they should do.”
He said on October 27 Dylan returned to his mother, after staying with his father, with a lump on his head.
“Once more, the mother took no action,” said the judge.
“On 14th December 2017, the mother refused to engage with the social worker in the assessment that was then being undertaken by the local authority of this family.
“Very tragically, the mother took no action when Raphael Kennedy contacted her in the evening of 14th December to notify her that (Dylan) was ill.
“She was told by Mr Kennedy that (Dylan) kept going to get his coat and hat and put them on because he wanted to go home.
“The mother did nothing.
“She did not go around and collect him because she said the last text message she had received from Raphael Kennedy was that (Dylan) was asleep in bed.
“The following day, Raphael Kennedy killed (Dylan) in a brutal attack.”
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