Boy taken from home after exposure to domestic violence can return to mother
A little boy removed from his home more than two years ago because he was being exposed to domestic violence can return to his mother’s care, a family court judge has decided.
But Recorder Carly Henley ruled that the youngster, who is approaching his third birthday, should not see his father.
Council social services bosses had planned to seek permission to place the toddler for adoption but reconsidered after the woman changed her ways.
The judge analysed the case at a recent private family court hearing in Newcastle upon Tyne and outlined detail in a written ruling published online.
She said the boy could not be identified in media reports of the case and has not named the council involved.
Social workers had intervened when the boy was a few months old, said the judge.
Evidence showed that he was being “exposed to parental domestic abuse” and at risk of physical and emotionally harm.
His father had been facing prosecution for abusing his mother.
He was placed in the care of a relative after his mother said she would not support a prosecution of his father.
The judge said the boy’s parents, who are both in their late 20s, both had criminal records and histories of drug misuse.
But she said the woman was no longer with the boy’s father and had changed.
The judge said the woman had “engaged well” with a support worker, kept her home to a very high standard, and tests had shown that she was clear of drugs and alcohol.
She said the woman had been seeing her son regularly and had a good relationship with him.
Social services bosses had changed their minds about adoption.
They thought the woman could now care for the boy – with help from social workers.
The judge said the boy’s father should not have any contact with him.
He had not seen the boy for more than a year and had “disengaged” from family court proceedings, she said.
Copyright (c) PA Media Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture – Newcastle Upon Tyne Combined Court Centre (c) Hugh Macknight / PA Wire.
