FM (A Child: fractures: bone density)

This judgment was delivered in private. The judge has given leave for it to be reported on the strict understanding that (irrespective of what is contained in the judgment) in any report no person other than the advocates or the solicitors instructing them and any other persons identified by name in the judgment itself may be identified by name or location and that in particular the anonymity of the child and the adult members of her family must be strictly preserved.

Leicester City Council (�the local authority�) applies to the court for a care order in respect of FM. FM is eighteen months old. Her parents are MS (�the mother)� and LT (�the father�). The trigger for these proceedings was FM�s admission to hospital on 9 th July 2014 where she was found to have unexplained fractures to her right and left tibia. The case comes before me now for a finding of fact hearing.

The mother is aged 23. The father is aged 30. The mother is white/British. The father is White/British/African Caribbean. FM is therefore a child of dual heritage.

The parents� relationship began in July 2012. They never lived together. They are unmarried.

The parents� relationship was unhappy. There was domestic violence. The last incident occurred on 5 th February 2014. It led to the mother applying for and obtaining a non-molestation injunction. As a result of that incident their relationship ended.