This judgment was given in private. The court permits publication of this judgment on condition that (irrespective of what is contained in the judgment) in any published version of this judgment the anonymity of the child and members of their family must be strictly preserved. All persons, including the parents, their legal representatives, legal bloggers and representatives of the media, must ensure that this condition is strictly complied with. Failure to do so may be a contempt of court.
Neutral Citation Number: [2025] EWFC 91 (B)
Case Number: SD24C50178
IN THE FAMILY COURT AT SUSSEX
Before: HHJ EARLEY
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In the matter of BB (A Child)
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Mr Little, of counsel, instructed for the Local Authority, West Sussex County Council
Mr Edwards, of counsel, instructed for the Mother
Mr Sharp, of counsel, instructed for the Father
Mr Amin, solicitor, instructed for the CAFCASS Guardian, Ms Moore
Hearing date: 20 March 2025
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JUDGMENT
This judgment was handed down remotely at 2.00pm on 4 April 2025 by circulation to the parties or their representatives by e-mail and thereafter by release to the National Archives
IMPORTANT NOTICE
HHJ EARLEY:
BB's birth and needs
History of proceedings re BB
Threshold
(ii) The mother left the United Kingdom on a one-way ticket to Malta the day after the unborn child was placed on a child protection plan, without informing social workers.
(iii) The mother failed to disclose the birth of BB to the local authority until 7 June 2024, in an attempt to evade child protection involvement.
(iv) When the birth of BB was disclosed, the mother falsely claimed to be in Spain, rather than in Malta
(v) Since BB's birth in Malta, the mother returned to the UK on at least two occasions leaving BB in hospital without a parent present in the country.
(vi) The mother has a longstanding history of harmful use of alcohol on a binge pattern and consuming excessive alcohol during pregnancy.
(vii) The mother failed to acknowledge her problematic use of alcohol during her pregnancy with BB and failed to take steps to remedy it.
(viii) The Mother tested positive via Hair-Strand and PETH Testing for chronic excessive use of alcohol in the period end January - end April 2024 whilst BB was in utero.
(ix) In the early hours of 10 May 2024, the mother was found in the Gatwick Airport Area unresponsive and heavily in drink whilst BB was in utero.
(x) When giving birth in Malta, the mother had alcohol in her system.
(xi) Since BB's birth the mother was at times intoxicated, as observed by the Maltese authorities.
(xii) The Mother has suffered recurrent depressive episodes and has a history of self-harm, including expressing suicidal ideation whilst her older children were in her care.
Care Plan for BB
Position of BB's father
Position of BB's mother
Orders
HHJ Sarah Earley