A COUPLE’S two-year-old boy was raped by a foster child placed with the family by blundering social workers — who did not reveal he was a sex offender.
Their daughter aged nine was also abused by the 18-year-old.
He had been with the family for “several months” before the terrified girl broke down and revealed what had been going on, a court heard.
Prosecutor Richard Evans said: “The girl confided in her parents after her brother was raped by the teenager. It was horrific abuse.”
The lad’s crimes were so serious that the judge locked him up indefinitely.
And the council involved yesterday admitted a “serious error of judgment” over the placement.
The lad was “an emergency case” because he was homeless, Cardiff Crown Court heard. But social services kept the family in the dark about his sex offences, which stretched back five years.
He first faced claims of “sexually inappropriate behaviour” with a young boy.
In 2005 he admitted exposing himself and touching another young boy sexually at a hostel.
In 2007 he quit a job in a bowling alley when parents found he was trying to get young girls’ phone numbers.
Last year he was caught sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, the Recorder of Cardiff, said: “A tragedy ensued for a family who only wished to serve the community.
“They were unable to protect their own children because of a failure to provide them with information.”
The offender — who cannot be named for legal reasons — admitted rape and indecent assault. He was told he would serve at least six years and only be released when he was no longer a risk.
He must register as a sex offender and is banned from working with kids for life.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council, in South Wales, said it “deeply regretted” the harm and distress it had caused the family. Social services director Phil Evans said senior managers had met with the couple to apologise and offer support.
Staff have been disciplined over the blunder and the NSPCC is to oversee a case management inquiry.
Child protection groups blasted the council. A spokeswoman for Kidscape said the placement was “totally irresponsible”.
Social workers didn’t tell us foster child was a sex fiend..he raped our son | The Sun |News
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