Judge blasts social services for 'failing teenage girl'

Paul Tain branded social services' handing of the 13-year-old's case "a complete mess" and demanded to meet its director in court.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left alone when her mother emigrated to Spain and placed in a Hastings children's home.

On Friday, Judge Tain heard the girl had absconded from the home and committed crimes on a near-daily basis.

The young girl faced a list of charges - the vast majority of which were committed in Hastings - including assault, disorder, harassment, resisting police officers, abusing railway staff and climbing over train station ticket barriers.

After hearing that secure accommodation would not be arranged for the girl, Judge Tain turned on the social services representative.

He said: "Social services seems to be contributing to, rather than helping with, the issues she faces.

"The local authority's view seems to be that she is not putting herself at any risk by absconding and should not be placed in secure accommodation.

"Any independent observer would have great difficulty understanding this view.

"In my mind it is completely straight forward. She has absconded from the home virtually every day through August, September and October.

"How can she not be at risk? I have issued secure accommodation orders on far, far less serious grounds than this in the past.

"Unfortunately there isn't much I can do about it."

Offered the chance to speak to a member of social services' management, Judge Tain declined, saying: "I'm not interested in that. I want to go straight to the top.

"Someone needs to explain to me why this is such a complete mess."

The teenager was remanded on unconditional bail.

David Archibald, director of East Sussex County Council's social services department, has yet to respond to the judge's request.

The girl was back in court on Monday on fresh charges, and bailed again to appear at Hastings Magistrates' Court on Wednesday - but she failed to attend.

On Wednesday, the court heard she wanted to live at a friend's house in Seaford, and had been staying there since Monday night.

Judge Tain reiterated his concerns about the girl, adding: "It seems the local authority knows where she is going and what she is doing on the days she absconds, so will not make secure accommodation arrangements for her. But she simply isn't prepared to stay in her particular children's home.

"Fortunately she is not committing very serious offences and there is no sign of an escalation in her criminal behaviour. It is probably just to draw a bit of attention to herself."

A warrant for her arrest was issued. She was arrested and was due before magistrates in Eastbourne yesterday afternoon.