Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TRAGEDY OF THE ‘INVISIBLE BOY’
Social workers missed chances to aid lad crushed to death
The risk of a new partner or his mum’s ability to safeguard was not considered
MEDWAY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN CASE REVIEW
A BOY who was crushed to death by a car seat was “invisible” to social workers who missed a string of chances to save him.
Alfie Lamb, three, was left to be killed by his mother’s boyfriend despite evidence during his short life that it was likely he would suffer “significant harm”, a review revealed.
He died in the footwell of an Audi car when Stephen Waterson reversed the electric seat into him in February 2018.
Social workers had closed Alfie’s case in error when they learned Waterson was seeing his mother, Adrian Hoare.
It was just two months after the toddler had been hospitalised with head injuries.
Alfie had been left living with Waterson despite reports the thug threatened to kill him eight months before he died. The serious case review by the Medway Safeguarding Children Board, Kent said: “[Alfie] was ‘invisible’ during some responses from services.”
Alfie and Adrian had been allowed to live with Waterson in Croydon, South London, despite him having convictions for domestic violence and threatening to kill a baby. Alfie’s father Richard Lamb had convictions for domestic abuse while Waterson had an “extensive record” for sex attacks.
The report said: “Neither the potential risk of the new partner nor mother’s ability to safeguard were considered.”
Accurate assessment of the risk Alfie faced was hindered by the fact that Hoare moved addresses regularly and lied to health and social workers.
Waterson, 26, tried to exploit the status of his adoptive dad, ex-mp Nigel Waterson to evade justice, but he eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for seven years.
Hoare, 24, was convicted of child cruelty. She was jailed for two years and nine months.
John Drew, ex-independent Chair of Medway Safeguarding Children Board, said: “We are committed to ensuring the recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible.”