We want our kids back!

We the undersigned feel you should know what Wandsworth council are doing to families. Please help us get our kids back, where they belong.

My fiancee had to endure an emotionally and physically
(not to mention financially) draining five day court
case at the Principal Registry of the Family Division
in High Holborn on the dates 19/11/2007-23/11/2007.

The court case was unfairly one-sided and her
solicitor grossly incompetent. My fiancee not being
advised, helped or even given the necessary paperwork
or guidance to stand a fighting chance.
With this in mind we are trying to find another
solicitor, which has to be quick as time is of the
essence, with the final judgement on 10th December and
14 days to appeal from that date. We are also going to
report her solicitor to the Office for the Supervision
of Solicitors.
The story being that she had four children wrongly
taken from her care on Friday 23rd November. We have
firmly believed that this is a case of Wandsworth
Social Services trying to make up their 'Yearly Quota'
and Carol (my fiancee) happened to be caught in the
headlights, so to speak.

I ask, we ask that you could possibly give our story
the coverage it needs, to warn others of the
despicable lies and untruths Wandsworth Council will
go to and also spreading the word of our predicament
which has left a 35 year old woman frail, scared,
heartbroken and trusting of nobody anymore.
I find the decision to remove the children from her
care absolutely disgusting and to be wholly wrong,
morally and legally.

I have known Carol for many years and the children all
of their lives. They lived a fulfilling life under
Carol's care. They are truly loved by Carol and that
is reciprocated by the children and their undoubted
love for her.

We certainly don't believe Carol received a fair
hearing. In fact, nobody, bar Carol had any chance to
present Carols side to the court. Indeed, in a
situation like this I find it somewhat strange, that
in a situation which is as delicate as this surely
Carol and the children have the right to live a
wholesome, happy and fruitful life as a family.

It is on record with the courts that she and I were
planning to marry in 2008.
This would be a strong, loving family unit which would
direct the children to the best possible future they
could have. Educationally, health and well being.
I certainly don't see why the children should be
denied the best possible life they could have with
their mother and step-father.
The biological father's of all the children have never
been in their lives,never been supportive financially
or emotionally and yet one was allowed to present a
case in court. Yet, I, a person who loves them dearly
and would do anything for them, was not allowed to do
so. The sad part being he wanted custody of six
children when he only has a one bedroom flat, is
unemployed (on Incapacity) and has health problems.
Hardly a comfortable and/or reliable environment to
bring up children.

I am led to believe that I was allowed into court
according to Social Services, Carol's brief telling us
otherwise. Either way, neither I nor 'key' character
witnesses had the opportunity to present Carol's side.
Indeed, even the 'Night-Staff' who were observing
Carol put in good reports on her behalf, yet we are
not sure if they were presented/or read to/by the
Judge.
The Judge had been presented with pictures the
children enjoying trips out Brighton, Margate,
LegoLand, Blackpool, Chessington World of Adventures,
Bishop's Park, Battersea Park. Dispelling the myth
that Social Services had suggested that Carol, did not
let the children have the opportunity to experience
and enjoy outdoor activities. Indeed, Carol and I took
the children to Blackpool and they thoroughly enjoyed
it. In fact wanting to go back in October to see the
Illuminations. This opportunity denied to the children
not by Carol or I, but by Social Services and this
ridiculous court case.
The children have been put through the ringer, as has
Carol. None of them deserve this. The children were so
distraught on Thursday 22nd November, that without a
need to be prompted. Took it upon themselves to plead
with the Judge, by writing their own pleas on paper
and asking the Judge to not break up the family.
Shona even took it upon herself tearfully to ask the
Judge to let them all stay with their Mother.'Please
tell the Judge I don't want us to be taken away from
you.'

The removal of the children was exceedingly traumatic
for all. Such was the atmosphere, even the two Police
Officers in attendance were visibly disturbed, shocked
and appalled by the events. On several occasions
during the removal of the children they stressed that
this was not their doing. On two occasions telling me
that this was the worst thing they have had to do all
year. However, they were just doing their job.
The behaviour of the Social Workers was nothing short
of shameful. They were actually smirking & laughing as
the children were being removed.
The behaviour of Social Services has been far from
Professional. Indeed, we still don't know to what
extent this court order stretches to. We have been
mis-informed on several occasions as to what
could/has/will happened. In one instance on Thursday
22nd November. One of the Social Workers told three
people, three different things in relation to the same
question. We still don't know where they are, how they
are doing, how they are feeling. Surely a mother's
right. In fact, we were told conflicting stories as
the children were being taken. Several different
versions of what is happening to the children.
We have witnesses to the fact that they bribed her
disabled son into the car with toys after physically
dragging him across the road. Absolutely shameful,
using bribery to lure a disabled child into a
strangers car. One of the Social Workers is seen to
have pushed several of the children and hit one of the
children by the front door. This now reported and
being actioned by Wandsworth Police.
The whole debacle started when Social Services
threatened to take the children away before she could
even get home from court. A deeply stressful situation
which was added to by the fact they actually tried to
take a child who was not even on the court order.
Such was the distress of the twins, they were
physically dragging the children back into the home
and guarding them from being taken.
Her son was so distressed that he tried to unlock
(thankfully it is a securely locked window) and jump
from his first floor window. He begged and pleaded
with hands in a 'praying position' with the police
officer 'I am begging you, please don't take me, I'll
be good, I promise'.
In fact he tried to strangle himself in front of the
Police officers and Social Workers. The Social Workers
clearly finding it humorous.
Her seven year old daughter collapsed, such was her
distress. She had to be cooled down with cold, damp
flannels until Paramedics arrived.
What sort of judicial system or social services would
put children in such danger? It is shameful. Six
loving children being taken from a loving environment
and placed in a totally alien and unloving
environment.
Not only that, but actually endangering the very lives
of the children they 'claim' to be trying to protect.
The disabled boy who is dependent on medication, which
if not administered could end up with death.
He won't take the medication for anyone else, such is
his undying love and trust for his mother.
Therefore, taking him away and putting his life at
risk is another damning insight into what is wrong
with this judgment.
There were five independent witnesses to the events
leading up to and including the children's removal,
not including myself, Carol and the two Police
Officers.
The children did not leave with any of their
belongings other than the clothes they were wearing
and their coats.
This because we did not want them to leave in the
first place, it was the courts and Social Services
doing.
They even had the audacity to ask us to take the
children to their cars.
This is having a detrimental effect on the two eldest.
One being so fretful for her siblings that she has
taken to wearing her younger sisters clothes, as a
memory of her and a sign of solidarity.
It is deeply painful for all involved. I'd like to
know what sort of childhood the Judge had to make such
a decision. I know the children are loved, cared for
and protected. If it's a crime to love too much then
that is all Carol is guilty of. It was and is patently
clear that the children were happy, enjoying life,
enjoying their mother and living in a clean, healthy
caring environment.
Carol has made many improvements to the family home,
not that it needed many in the first place. It is a
safe, clean environment.
The pictures were there for the Judge to see, the
letters written by family and friends a clear
indication to the feelings all had for Carol and the
children.
The sad reality of it all is that the children are
blaming themselves. The true reality of the situation
being that far from allegedly improving their lives.
Every one of those children will be heartbroken,
confused, alone.
The children were showing a real sign of improvement
at school, and in all areas of their childhood
development.
We are appealing for another judgment. We shall be
searching for and aiming for an appeal.
Carol is more than willing to work with Social
Services, as am I. Carol just wants a chance to give
those children a fighting chance in life. That is all
we want.
She has brought those children up on her own for nine
years. She has been through a difficult time. It isn't
easy to raise six children on her own.

This entire debacle is 'Oxymoronic' on the part of the
juducial/social services system.
We simply ask that the children are happy, we ask that
Carol's side are given an opportunity. The court case
was very much one sided, unfair in our opinion and we
don't feel that a judgment can be made purely on what
'Professionals' say. As they don't have 24 hour access
to the lives of Carol and the children and their
decisions are as much based on personal opinion as
anything, and we all have different interpretations of
opinion and how it can form a wrong conclusion.

We want the best for those children. The lies told by
Social Services is pungent. The stench, thick.. That
knowledge of being let down by the people we thought,
hand on heart, we could trust.

I can only add to this that I love Carol, and I love
the children. Nothing, but nothing will break that.

I hope your newspaper can be of some help in this
situation. We are still struggling to find a solicitor
to represent us for an appeal.



Sincere regards,


P.Bentley & C. Clark