Systemic Failures Left Boy in 'Life-Threatening' Neglect
A ten-year-old boy endured potentially life-threatening neglect that was repeatedly missed by safeguarding authorities, a damning report has revealed. The child, referred to as 'Abdur' to protect his identity, developed severe health complications including malnourishment, anaemia and scurvy - a Victorian-era disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency that necessitated the removal of four of his teeth.
38 Missed Warnings and Mouldy Bread Lunches
Staff at Abdur's school made 38 separate alerts to social services about his deteriorating condition between January and February 2023. They reported his rapid weight loss and concerning lunchboxes containing nothing but dry, and on one occasion mouldy, bread and water. Despite these repeated warnings, Oldham Council - responsible for his wellbeing under a care order at home - was in the process of reducing his level of protection when his condition worsened dramatically.
'Preventable' Suffering and Missed Opportunities
The report, commissioned shortly after the 2023 incident but only published recently, found Abdur was in such intense pain from vitamin deficiencies that he struggled to walk. When he suffered a knee injury, his mother and stepfather told social workers they did not believe he was in pain. In desperation, the boy flagged down a stranger's car to get a lift back to school after being forced to walk from a doctor's appointment, putting himself at significant risk.
Medical professionals also missed opportunities to intervene. Abdur attended A&E twice and visited a GP, but his wider health issues went unrecognised until his school nurse arranged his admission to a paediatric hospital. The safeguarding review concluded his completely preventable condition could have become fatal without timely treatment.
Speaking on behalf of the Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership, Councillor Shaid Mushtaq offered a profound apology: "This is a deeply distressing case, and my thoughts are first and foremost with Abdur and his family. No child should ever have to experience what they went through, and as a council we are truly sorry for the pain and trauma they have suffered."
Despite the catastrophic failures, Abdur remains under a full care order at home with his mother, stepfather and half-siblings. The council has pledged significant reforms to its safeguarding procedures, including earlier risk identification and ensuring children's voices are properly heard and acted upon.
