Parents Mary and Allen Johnson were shocked when social workers took their son ,David,into care .The problems started when David started appearing at school with bruises on the forehead ."We did notice the bruising ", said Mary, "but he's at a inner city school we thought he was just headbutting other kids so we didn't think anything about it ." In concern for the boys safety teachers reported the bruising to social services , who sped into action and took the boy into care twelve months later .
Mary and Allen appealled claims that they had physically abused their son . After a very fast investigation that took three years the social services withdrew any charges of physical abuse levelled against the couple much to their relief . But their relief was short lived when it became obvious that David was not to be returned .
"We said to this bloke from the council well if we have been found innocent where is he? And he looked round him and said who , and i said my son , and he thought and then his face lit up as he realised . He said don't move i'll be right back , he left the house and we never saw him again ." A letter was sent a year later confirming that David would not be returned .
The Johnson's put in a written request to find out the reason their son was still in care ,which they sent to the head of child services directly . Finally after five years a reply was sent and to the couples horror it was revealed that David was being kept in care at his own request . "Well, it was then we found out how the bruising came about it was self-inficted ." Mary wipes away a tear as she tells the story ."David thought we were , what was the expression Dad ."
"Pig shit ignorant ,"adds Allen . "Yes , apparently he though we were completely stupid , and every stupid thing we did David slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand , thus the bruising , apparently it was really bad at the time he went into care because we voted liberal again ."
The sad thing is that David is now eighteen and out of parental care , he ecks a meagre living as overseas development finance officer for Barclays . As Allen puts it , " if he'd worked for a bank while he was in this house i would punched the bastard in the forehead ."