How could we have let Sara down so badly?

Yes Petal 53 it was disgusting to hear how that little child suffered. It is a shame they got locked up in prison far too good for them, if they were let out I would be the first in the queue with my metal pole and cricket bat hopefully with others and give them what that gave that poor defenceless child let deserve to rot for what they done.

eazybee

We have not let Sara down; it is the Authorities and most notably, the Social Services Team who spent six days 'examining her case'after the teacher reported bruising, then closed the case. I don't normally blame Social Services because i know the pressure they are under, and how manipulative some parents can be but in this case they were negligent and the child died because of it.
Sara had a case history dating from before birth; she had lived with her mother, removed to live in care, then given into the 'care' of her father, a man with a history of violence. When bruising was reported was this child even seen and medically examined? If so, previous injuries would have been identified. The past history of her father would be on file, and the point of the 'paperless office' is that documentation is available on line immediately, not hidden in files on dusty top shelves.
But the case was closed; soon the father removed her from school for 'home schooling' something else which can conceal a multitude of sins. No check was made, and he was allowed the last few weeks of Sara's life to abuse her at will with the collusion of his wife and brother.
I believe the ideology of the Social Services is also to blame. Support the family, no matter what; don't break the family bond. At case conferences, nothing like as appalling as this, the needs of the mother, or father, seem to take precedence over those of the child, and excuse after excuse is proffered in defence.
The case was supposedly discussed over six days; why were examinations and investigations not carried out.?When the family moved from a flat to another area, were the records not received by the school? Did the social worker not make contact? I have been contacted by social workers from hundreds of miles away, to fill the school in on a new child's background; some visit personally to check information has been received and the staff are aware.

Already excuses are coming: lack of staff, senior workers pulled back, lack of money, when it rests with the incompetence of social services and their skewed focus. .
I know this is a rant, and I am sorry, but I am so angry that this abuse was allowed to go unchecked when all the signs were there. But no-one bothered to follow it up.

👏👏👏 💔

We have not let Sara down; it is the Authorities and most notably, the Social Services Team who spent six days 'examining her case'after the teacher reported bruising, then closed the case. I don't normally blame Social Services because i know the pressure they are under, and how manipulative some parents can be but in this case they were negligent and the child died because of it.
Sara had a case history dating from before birth; she had lived with her mother, removed to live in care, then given into the 'care' of her father, a man with a history of violence. When bruising was reported was this child even seen and medically examined? If so, previous injuries would have been identified. The past history of her father would be on file, and the point of the 'paperless office' is that documentation is available on line immediately, not hidden in files on dusty top shelves.
But the case was closed; soon the father removed her from school for 'home schooling' something else which can conceal a multitude of sins. No check was made, and he was allowed the last few weeks of Sara's life to abuse her at will with the collusion of his wife and brother.
I believe the ideology of the Social Services is also to blame. Support the family, no matter what; don't break the family bond. At case conferences, nothing like as appalling as this, the needs of the mother, or father, seem to take precedence over those of the child, and excuse after excuse is proffered in defence.
The case was supposedly discussed over six days; why were examinations and investigations not carried out.?When the family moved from a flat to another area, were the records not received by the school? Did the social worker not make contact? I have been contacted by social workers from hundreds of miles away, to fill the school in on a new child's background; some visit personally to check information has been received and the staff are aware.

Already excuses are coming: lack of staff, senior workers pulled back, lack of money, when it rests with the incompetence of social services and their skewed focus. .
I know this is a rant, and I am sorry, but I am so angry that this abuse was allowed to go unchecked when all the signs were there. But no-one bothered to follow it up.

Absolutely horrific what this poor beautiful child went through, like others I hope the murders never get freedom again. Even hardened criminals can't abide child abusers in jail.
There are very good reasons why children should be denied access to violent parents. No access would be the best option.Social services need to wake up and be advocate for the child, not the parents, especially when previous abuse has been noted.
RIP Sara.

I worked in childcare most of my adult life. Attended many courses on what was once called " child protection"
Sadly I had to contact social services on 3 separate occasions (3 different families). On each occasion I was asked did I have a personal problem with the mother!
Nothing was done to help the children
Sad
I have no faith in the system unfortunately

The thought of what that poor little girl went through breaks my heart.
Why was no one listening, why was she returned to her monster of a father.
Lessons must be learned, when will lessons be learned. This happens time and time again.
RIP sweet Sara xxx

I keep thinking what anxiety this poor little sausage must have felt at the end of every school day.

I feel such horror when reading the details of cases like this.
The father seems to think he just went too far attempting to discipline Sara. Is an absolute obscenity. And I would advise anyone who thinks a child is being abused to swallow their fear of the community they live in or the family they are a part of and to REPORT NOW.
RIP darling girl.

I think they should all be sent back to Pakistan to a prison there.. why should our prison services pay for them.. they chose to flee back there.. vile, disgusting people

On my goodness, this is just SO terrible I'm completely lost for words. Poor poor little soul, how on earth could this have happened in this country in 2024? Lessons will be learnt!! Yeah yeah, we hear this everytime and EVERYTIME it happens again. So very shocking.

I can only agree with everything said here.

It makes me feel quite nauseous reading about and listening to what happened to this poor, defenceless little girl.

This "lessons will be learnt" which is so regularly trotted out exonerates nobody, convinces nobody and is clearly not the case at all.

Unforgiveable.

There were lots going in that household. There’s a picture of her, dressed like an adult, with lipstick etc. I haven’t read the whole story. Too distressing. R.I.p. little one - no more pain 🥲

How many more times will at risk and vulnerable children be returned to their violent parents / carers!? The child must be to priority every time - not the parent or carers. IMO once an adult is accused of such brutality that child should NEVER be returned to them - no second chances.
It beggers belief! That poor child, like everyone else my heart is broken for her. May she rest in peace.

It would be shorter still if I had my way.

Perhaps they will have a very short life.

I hope he never has a moment's peace for the rest of his, hopefully, long and drawn out existence.

Did I read that her real mother had been violent towards her the reason she was given to her father Two other children had been harmed one was taken away and hasn’t returned the other wasn’t taken away
Dreadful dreadful case and the ridiculous thing is the father had enough about him to admit to it all
Hopefully he will be in fear in prison …child harmers/ killers are not popular with other prisoners, the step mother too

What pis#es me off, too, is those who excuse appointments not kept, visits not made, reports not followed up...

MissAdventure

I'm at the point where I avoid reading about these cases, because I just can't put them out of my mind.
Just all of it, the mistakes, the lessons learned speeches, the short sentences, all of it.

Just horrific.
R.i.P poor little soul.

I completely agree!

Despicable, horrific people, all those who “allowed” this to carry on the whole of this innocent little girl’s life.

RIP little one

That poor little child. She was tortured again and again and had no-one to turn to. My heart hurts for her unbelievable suffering. I hope she's in a kinder, more loving place. RIP little poppet

The neighbours have something to answer for in my opinion.

Poor little girl. Those parents are monsters and i hope they rot in hell.

Another child let down - again and again and again. Heartbreaking.

Lessons will be learnt
How many times will this line be trotted out? Its like a very bad joke, and laughable if it were not used in tragic cases.
When will these lessons be learnt.

You posted exactly what I was going to say Heidithecat and when they die, I hope there's a special place in hell for them too.

MissAdventure

I'm at the point where I avoid reading about these cases, because I just can't put them out of my mind.
Just all of it, the mistakes, the lessons learned speeches, the short sentences, all of it.

Just horrific.
R.i.P poor little soul.

I’m braver about reading about them than I was when younger. I used to avoid it altogether - I never read about the Moors Murders, for example.

The case of Sara is beyond belief. I only know what has been said on the BBC news, and that is quite enough