East Sussex to reply to judge’s criticisms

East Sussex Council is expected to respond next week to a judge’s criticisms of its practice in the case of a boy who was supplied with class A drugs by his mother.

Emma Kelly was jailed for nine years last week for giving her son heroin and crack from the age of nine.

Judge Niblett questioned the failure of social services teams to intervene before Kelly was arrested last year.

East Sussex children’s services director Matt Dunkley said: “All the major decisions taken to protect this child prior to him being taken into care were taken jointly with all the agencies involved, including the police.

“Clearly, however, we will urgently consider the comments made by Judge Niblett.”