THELAWPAGES.COM

Sir i am sorry for your sons situation and will strive to help you arrive at a conclusion to the sometimes bewildering life in courts and criminal investigations.It is clear your son was assaulted,but the court have to prove within a reasonable doubt that he was,then they have to look at the victim ie your son ,would the court process be good for him ,would he make a good witness ,would he stand up to cross examination .Then they have to look at after a costly trial would the perpatrators be facing a prison sentence under current legislation or would they be illegible for a caution , in considering all the facts it appears the case probably warranted a police warning or caution and although that is not what you wish to hear as a parent ,the record of the assault will be kept on file for future reference and if they where to come across the assailiants again their punishment would be more severe.I hope this answers your question

My son, aged 15 currently in LA Care (section 20) owing to challenging behaviour & complex difficulties - owing to undiagnosed autism.  While residing in a Children\'s Home - my son had been bullied and taunted (ongoing) by 3 other yp (males) also accommodated there.  This led to a very traumatic situation, whereby the staff in the children\'s home, on hearing my son\'s screams coming from upstairs.  They attended immediately, but door locked from inside (where my son was and 3 boys).  Staff had to kick door down and call police.  They discovered my son had been tied up and the three boys assaulting him physically and mentally (threatening to cut him with razor blades etc).  The 3 boys were arrested and held in custody at police station all weekend, then released elsewhere on bail (for my son\'s safety). This was end of October 2012?  My son had made a statement that night and so too had the staff at the home. Since then I had heard, that the three boys faced a Crown Court Trial at Wood Green - though not officially. Neither myself or my son, had been contacted in any official capacity since the night of the attack. So I assumed it was all going ahead, without the need of my son\'s input/evidence?  I therefore had no need to chat to my son, about the court case or his likely role in giving evidence etc - as the need never arose.

Anyway, approx 2 weeks ago - totally out of the blue, a police officer called at the children\'s home and spoke to the manager there, saying he had called round to take a statement from my son. My son was in his room, maybe not even awake yet? But in any event, totally unprepared for this occurrence and declined giving a statement (he was anxious and apprehensive etc), this was a bit of a shock to him.   Anyway, the police officer then lneft, giving no option of giving my son time to consider, speak to me (his mum) or any other carer/supporter.  Then approx 1 week later, one of the three boys contacted the manager at the childrens home to say, the matter had been dropped from crown court and the charge reduced to common assault, for which they were to go to magistrates court.

Is this right, surely my son had some sort of rights to be treated a bit more sensitively than this, even without his being Austistic/ADHD - I am totally livid that nobody had even bothered to contact my son/myself in relation to this matter in which my son was a victim.  This gives the message that he doesnt matter and it is ok for other people to treat you in such a degrading and demening manner.  Restricting your freedom, liberty and mentally tortured and physically harmed by 3 delilnquents.  As for those boys, what message will this give them, its ok to harm and abuse other people???

I would really welcome any advice or opinion others may have, I feel  as if my son has been abandoned by the courts in not being worthy of their concern and protection.  What is the world coming to - I am gob-smacked !!!!!!!!

???????????????????  please help /advise ????????  thanks