News

A teenager was "very badly let down" by Northamptonshire Council, an Appeal Court judge has said, despite upholding its decision to put her daughter up for adoption.

Lord Justice Wall said the council's decision to place the teenager, then 15, in the care of a criminal with a personality disorder who subsequently fathered her child "beggars belief".

But he backed a ruling by Northampton County Court that it was in the best interests of the baby to be put up for adoption, to keep her away from her father, who is still friends with the teenager.


The teenager was taken into care aged 13 after being abused by her step-father and neighbours. She challenged the adoption of her daughter, saying the council had gone from approving the child's father as a carer to seeing him as someone who should not be around their daughter.

The council has ordered an independent review of the case and promised to "introduce any necessary changes to procedures".