A 13-year-old boy has filed a lawsuit against his UK-based parents, accusing them of forcibly deporting him to Africa under the pretext of addressing concerns about alleged gang involvement.
The teenager, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, reached out to the British Consulate and a child welfare organization after being left at a boarding school in Africa while his parents returned to the UK. His legal team claims the parents “abandoned him physically and emotionally,” alleging that the decision was based on unfounded fears about his behavior in London.
At a hearing on November 26, the boy’s lawyers urged the court to order his return to the UK, where he was born and raised. Deirdre Fottrell KC, representing the boy, described the parents’ actions as “extraordinary and harmful,” emphasizing that the teenager is suffering emotionally, psychologically, and potentially physically in his current environment.
Fottrell argued that the boy, who denies any gang involvement, was subjected to a “brutal” relocation without his consent or proper consultation. She highlighted reports of inadequate food, poor education standards, and mistreatment at the boarding school, leaving him feeling “humiliated” and deeply unhappy.
The boy’s father’s legal representative, Rebecca Foulkes, defended the parents’ decision, stating that it was a legitimate exercise of parental responsibility aimed at addressing escalating behavioral issues. According to Foulkes, social workers had previously reported challenges in managing the boy, including instances of physical aggression, truancy, and suspected criminal activities.
Foulkes added that the boy’s lifestyle in the UK raised concerns, with teachers observing him in possession of expensive items and images of knives on his phone. She argued that the African school offered a safe and structured environment, free from the risks he faced in London.
Judge Mr. Justice Hayden noted the restrictive measures the boy faced in the UK, such as location tracking via his phone, and acknowledged the parents’ concerns. However, he also expressed sympathy for the boy’s distress, particularly given the abrupt nature of his relocation.
The case continues, with the court set to decide whether the parents’ actions were in the best interest of the child or a breach of his rights.
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