Kent County Council v M & Ors

Facts

Kent County Council brought care proceedings concerning two young boys, H aged 5 and B aged 3. Their mother, M, had fled an abusive relationship with the children's father, and by early 2025 was in a relationship with CW, who joined the proceedings as intervenor. On 14 March 2025 M took B, then a toddler unsteady on his feet, to his GP, concerned that he was clumsy and did not react to pain. The GP noted bruising to the forehead, ears, torso and left thigh and referred the matter on; B was admitted to hospital, where a further bruise behind the left ear was noted on 16 March 2025. A skeletal survey revealed three fractures: a buckle fracture of the right distal radius and healing fractures of the left ulna and left radial neck. M was arrested and charged, first with ABH and then GBH, and both she and CW were interviewed by the police, each having lied about the extent of CW's presence in the home. The children were placed with the maternal grandmother and maternal step grandfather in December 2025. The local authority alleged inflicted injury by M and/or CW, failure to protect, domestic abuse and cannabis misuse, and sought a special guardianship order if findings of perpetration were made.