Pregnant woman with learning difficulties can be alone with man she loves
A judge has refused to ban a heavily-pregnant woman who has learning difficulties from spending time alone with the man she loves.
Council social services bosses had said staff caring for the woman should stay in the house where she lived when her partner visited.
They said the woman had a history of absconding and feared that the couple might vanish, and put the unborn child at risk, if left alone.
The woman objected and Mr Justice Moor has decided that such a move would be wrong.
He said the woman had twice recently run away for short spells after becoming agitated.
But he said there was no evidence to suggest that her partner had helped her abscond.
The judge said on one occasion the man had called to tell council staff looking for the woman that she had arrived at his home.
Mr Justice Moor analysed the case at a hearing in the Court of Protection, where issues relating to people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions are considered, in London on Wednesday.
He said the woman, who is in her 20s, could not be identified in media reports of the case.
The judge said the woman lived at the house with carers.
He said arrangements had been made which allowed her partner to visit and spend time alone with her.
Staff left the house, but remained nearby, during those visits.
Council bosses said the woman was under increasing pressure because she was due to give birth soon.
They feared that pressure might increase the risk of her running away and said it would be a good idea for carers to now stay in the house, in another room, during visits until the child was born.
But a barrister representing the woman said she was in love with her partner and valued his unsupervised visits.
Katie Scott said stopping them would be unfair and could increase the woman’s agitation.
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