Father Fears For Son 'Who May Kill Someone'

A man has spoken of his fears that his 10-year-old adopted son may kill him and his wife unless he receives special medical treatment for his needs.

The family of the child - who is unable to form normal relationships, due to an attachment disorder - have said the boy's violent behaviour has led to him being taken into care in January following a string of violent acts.

The 10-year-old has attacked his father with a kitchen knife, left shattered glass to cut his siblings’ feet and attempted to strangle his mother with a seatbelt while she was driving a car.

He has also held a teacher hostage with a pair of scissors, lunged at his adopted father with a jagged tin can and tried to sexually assault young girls.

The couple, from Darlington, Co Durham, claimed they have appealed for a referral to the Keys Attachment Centre, Rawtenstall, Lancs, for six months.

However, the treatment costs between £3,000 and £5,000 per week, and the centre can only accept patients who have been referred to them by local authorities, he added.

"The therapy that this centre provides does work," the boy's adopted father said.

"I know the treatment he needs is expensive, but when you think of the cost of permanent foster care and then prison, why not spend that now while he has a better chance of being cured?"

His father also said the decision to put his son into care was "the worst time of my life", and he loved him "dearly".

He added: "He could easily kill someone. He is absolutely capable of killing someone. He has threatened us all.

"We have asked for help, but instead of getting help we seem to have been victimised."

The 10-year-old's parents said they only had two visits from social services during a three-month period in which the boy's violent behaviour was at its height.

A spokesman for Darlington Council said: "The issues raised appear to be health related.

"We work closely with health agencies, but cannot comment on their cases."

A spokesman for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are working closely with our colleagues in social services and the primary care trust to make sure this child gets the care and support he needs."

(JM/BMcc)