Sheffield City Council v The Mother [2025] EWFC 3 (B)
H.H. JUDGE MARSON
[1]The mother, MC1 is a perpetrator of physical abuse. Her older two children are not in her care, CY was removed in 2009 and CZ in August 2022.a. The court found on the 1st October 2010 that the mother was the most likely perpetrator of an inflicted bite mark on CY’s left buttock. This would have caused CY significant pain.b. CZ was seen with a concerning bruise to his face in June 2022. MC1 failed to seek appropriate medical advice in respect of this injury. Sexual and Emotional Harm by the Father[2]The father, FC1 is a perpetrator of sexual abuse to a child under the age of 13 years. This gives rise to a likelihood of sexual harm to C1 and of C1 witnessing such behaviour which is likely to cause him emotional harm. The acts of sexual abuse perpetrated by FC1 occurred in the home where FC1 was living and on some occasions MC1 was present in the home but not in the same room. The presence of MC1 in the home was not sufficient to deter FC1 from committing sexual assaults upon a child. C2a. In August 2022, following CZ being removed from the care of MC1, FC1 touched C2, a child then aged 9 years, on her ‘private parts’ (vagina) above and beneath her underwear. This occurred in MC1’s home whilst MC1 was elsewhere in the home. FC1 told the child not to tell her mum or dad about it, and told her that MC1 did not know about it;b. On two further occasions which occurred in February 2023; one when MC1 was in the bath, and one when MC1 was out of the home attending an interview, FC1 got under the bed covers with C2 while he was wearing just shorts and put his hands on her private parts (vagina) underneath her pants having unzipped the ‘onesie’ she was wearing. Physical and Emotional Harm by the Father[3]FC1 displays behaviour which would compromise his ability to offer safe and consistent care to C1. This means C1 is likely to suffer physical and/or emotional harm as a result of his father’s behaviour;a. FC1 struggles with his anger; he has punched the TV at MCX’s home, and pulled down a wardrobe and lightshade at MC3’s home when drunk.b. On New Year’s Eve 2020/21 FC1 accused MC3 of cheating on him and assaulted her. This led to his criminal conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. FC1 demonstrates abusive behaviour against women with whom he is in an intimate relationship. ENDS