Child Abuse ‘Echoes Case Of Victoria Climbie’
An independent inquiry has been demanded into the handling of a child abuse case that has disturbing echoes of the Victoria Climbie scandal. A four-year-old with cerebral palsy was handed back to her parents by social workers despite foster carers’ grave concerns.
Over seven weeks from 1 February to 18 March last year she suffered the worst abuse experts said they had seen.
{mosimage}Kimberley Harte, 23, and Samuel Duncan, 26, kicked their daughter repeatedly in the groin and locked her in a toilet for 49 days, only weeks after she had been allowed home by Westminster City Council social services.
The Maida Vale couple, who forced her to eat her own faeces and take cold baths, have been found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and this week face possible life sentences.
Today Labour councillors in Westminster demanded a full independent inquiry into the council’s handling of the case.
Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said: “The full circumstances of the council’s decision to let the child return home need to be investigated thoroughly so that, if mistakes were made, they can be avoided in the future.”
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