I represented the stepfather in care proceedings. He sought a CAO in respect of his partner’s 8-year-old child, who his partner had assaulted. That child had been born abroad as a result of the mother’s abduction and rape. The child exhibited severe behavioural issues.

After a 5-day final hearing the Court were not prepared to return the child to his stepfather, nor to adjourn the proceedings for the child to be psychologically assessed, but the Court did endorse a Care Plan which increased the stepfather’s contact and might allow the child to return to his stepfather in 12 months.

Sally Bradley for the LA, Philip Eldin-Taylor for M, Siobhan Kelly for the children