F v G (private law final hearing)

Kate Ferguson, instructed by John Welch & Stammers solicitors, represented the father

-           the home conditions needed improvement;

-           The mother had been in a relationship with Mr S and the boys had reported witnessing domestic abuse between him and their mother.� Mr S had reported to the father that he and the mother had a physical fight in front of the children during which she had hit him with an ashtray, and he had held her by the throat.� C had described seeing his mother hit Mr S over the head with an ashtray and also seeing his mother and Mr S throwing objects at one another and a glass jug falling and smashing at his mother�s feet;

-           The mother had given the father her old phone to be wiped and used by one of the boys, but messages found on the phone gave rise to concerns that Mr S may have been dealing in drugs from the property and that Mr S and Ms F had talked about getting cocaine and taking it.� (Ms F subsequently admitted to using cocaine on one occasion.� Drug tests for May to September were clear);

-           The local authority was concerned that the boys had been taking on a caring role for their mother.�