Social services under fire after boy cared for by convicted paedophile relative for at least two years

Judge Clifford Bellamy said staff at Leicester City Council had not undertaken a 'robust risk assessment' of the man

Judge Bellamy said none of the people involved could be identified. (Getty)

Social services staff have come under fire after a family court judge heard how a boy spent at least two years living with a relative who was a convicted paedophile.

Judge Clifford Bellamy said staff at Leicester City Council had not undertaken a “robust risk assessment” of the man - a great-great-uncle who is in his 70s and had served a jail term after admitting sexually abusing a girl - when they learned that he was involved in caring for the boy, who is now nine.

He also said they had lacked “any sense of urgency” in bringing the case to the attention of a family court judge.

The judge has raised concerns after being asked to make decisions about the long-term future of the boy at a family court hearing in Leicester.

He said the boy should be removed from his family and placed into foster care.

Judge Bellamy said none of the people involved could be identified.

He has explained, in a written ruling on the case, how the boy had a “complex” family background.

The boy's mother, who has mental health difficulties, had separated from his father several years ago.

His father had a “problem with alcohol” and had a decade ago been convicted of having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old girl when 21.

The great-great-uncle had been given an eight-year jail term in the early 1990s after being convicted of sexually abusing a girl when she was aged between 11 and 13.

He had admitted unlawful sexual intercourse and buggery.

Judge Bellamy said he had been released on licence after serving five years of the sentence and assessed as “low risk”.

PA