102 bids to self harm
THE girl lived with family in Cumbria before being taken into care at 14 because of ‘lowlevel criminality’ and because her mother was deemed incapable of helping her.
Her mental health and behaviour have declined to the point that she can never be left alone. The court heard that since she was jailed the teenager, identified as X, has made 102 bids to self harm.
She has vandalised furniture and fittings 16 times in search of dangerous items to swallow, including stones, screws, concrete and carpet, and will use even underwear to self harm.
X has banged her head, punched and bitten herself, and tried to cut herself.
She is watched even when she goes to the toilet and eight staff must always be on hand to restrain her. She will try to ‘abscond at any given opportunity’ and ‘can dislocate her hands to remove handcuffs’.