Convicted paedophile given custody of girl he got pregnant after years of horrific abuse

Child protection bosses gave a convicted paedophile custody of a girl he then went on to impregnate despite knowing of his criminal record, a sickening report reveals.

Victim Ruby (not her real name) was abused for several years by her legal guardian who authorities knew was a child sex offender.

The appalling decision was made by child protection services in Leeds, with her abuse only coming to light after Ruby became pregnant and needed an abortion.

Concerns were initially raised about the paedophile’s previous conviction, but authorities didn’t go on to seek legal advice before he was given the green light, Leeds Live reports.

The shocking failings were revealed in a report by Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership, which went on to claim authorities deciding on whether to grant the man custody “over-relied” on old accounts concluding that, despite his offences, he posed a “relatively low risk to young girls”.

Instead, safeguarding bosses fell for the offender’s “appearance of co-operating” and didn’t even show any “professional curiosity” for signs he could be dangerous.

At one point after gaining sole custody, he was arrested following an allegation he had indecent images on his computer, but was released without charge when no evidence was found.

After Ruby became pregnant, she was referred to social services because she was below the age of consent, with tests showing her guardian was the biological father.

Such was the extent of his grooming, the report claims, Ruby later told the review into her case that she initially didn’t recognise her treatment as abuse because it had “always” happened for as long as she could recall.

Her abuser threatened to kill himself if she told anyone, and Ruby told the review she believed he blocked social workers’ attempts to speak to her alone when they visited their home.

Shortly before it came out, she tried to run away from home and knocked on a stranger’s door “absolutely petrified”.

The report said: “Throughout the process of this review, neither the independent author nor the independent chair have heard from any professional who has not expressed concern regarding the decision made in court.

“Yet, at the time, all trusted the assessment of risk that (the offender) could potentially pose and accepted the court decision.”

The Safeguarding Partnership is made up of representatives from Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and local NHS services.

Commenting on the report, the Partnership said: “We commissioned a fully independent child safeguarding practice review in relation to Ruby and the multi-agency services that she and her family received.

“Significant changes to systems and practice have been implemented as a result of the important learning achieved through the review, and other related multi-agency developments are underway that will result in further improvement.

“The Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership Executive and the wider children and young people’s partnership are fully committed to continually reviewing how agencies in Leeds work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Leeds.”