A London Borough v S & Anor

A London Borough v S & Anor

The mother, as primary carer, inflicted Z's femoral fracture between leaving GOSH on 4 April and the home visit on 5 April 2022. The injury was not caused by medical staff, X, or accidental means. The mother manipulated evidence and lied to exculpate herself, implicating others. Expert evidence established no medical or accidental explanation; minor bone density reduction was possible but insufficient to account for fracture through normal handling.

Parties
Applicant: A London Borough; Mother: S; Father: T; Children: U, V, W; Child: X; Intervener: Great Ormond Street Hospital
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
05 December 2025
Procedural Posture
Care Proceedings / Fact Finding Judgment
Outcome
Findings made: mother perpetrated non-accidental injury to Z; father not found to have failed to protect; X did not cause injury.
Legal Topics
Non Accidental Injury, Care Order Threshold, Expert Medical Evidence, Burden of Proof, Credibility Assessment
Family Law Child Protection Non Accidental Injury Care Order Threshold Expert Medical Evidence Burden of Proof Credibility Assessment

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

A London Borough

Applicant

S

Mother

T

Father

U, V, W

Children

X

Child

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Intervener

Procedural Posture

Care Proceedings / Fact Finding Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Z's femoral fracture was non-accidental
  2. 2 Identification of perpetrator
  3. 3 Causation and timing of injury

Ratio Decidendi

The mother, as primary carer, inflicted Z's femoral fracture between leaving GOSH on 4 April and the home visit on 5 April 2022. The injury was not caused by medical staff, X, or accidental means. The mother manipulated evidence and lied to exculpate herself, implicating others. Expert evidence established no medical or accidental explanation; minor bone density reduction was possible but insufficient to account for fracture through normal handling.

Court Disposition

Findings made: mother perpetrated non-accidental injury to Z; father not found to have failed to protect; X did not cause injury.

Orders

  • Mother found to have inflicted Z's femoral fracture between 4 and 5 April 2022.
  • Father not found to have failed to protect Z.