Despite my personal reservations I returned my daughter to her mother on time.

The Social Worker's report arrived on the 30th of July as expected, and just as predicted the ex didn't like it. The report is very plain (once you get past the first 23 pages), it says neither of my children is safe with the ex.

The report includes the whinge (from the ex) that I didn't take my daughter home on time, eh? The SW dismissed this.

The report also contains the gem that when my daughter was interviewed by the police in July (following the abuse allegation) she said "what did mum tell me to say?". It also says that the allegation is a repeat of one from 2008 (dismissed in 2008). Dirty.

The recommendations are that my daughter relocates to me, immediately, and that my son can either stay with his aunt or live with me. Neither would be allowed to live, or even stay, with their mother.

A period of six months is suggested before a review in front of the judge.

My solicitor and myself worked through the report a few days later in order to draft my court statement. That was two full hours (at £200 per hour). We are convinced our case is solid, we are echoing the SW's recommendations.

I booked a trip to see my son for the middle of August and wrote to him a few weeks earlier to tell him what was going on, and what could happen. I've promised him that it will be the judge who decides what happens, not me.

In the meantime though I arranged to visit my daughter for the day on the 14th. The visit itself was fine, but the weather was lousy. We ended up watching Shrek:The Final Chapter in the local cinema. We did however manage a walk along the seafront, the annual regatta was in the harbour with stands/stalls all along the promenade. I took her home at 3pm and thought that was it.

On the way back into the town centre I was called by one of the ex's neighbours. This particular family have been very anti-me since they moved in almost a year ago. They are named in the SW's report and in the multi-agency meeting minutes.

Anyway, I stop to talk to the guy who's calling after me. He's seen the SW's report (another breach of confidentiality) but now accepts that the ex is a liability. He tells me my daughter would be better off with me and that my son is now safe having moved north.

I can't believe I'm hearing this but we exchange mobile no.s and email add's. Certainly a benefit of the doubt situation.

Half an hour later he calls, my daughter is on the seafront - alone. She's found a police officer and had him call her mother. I'm still in town so I run onto the seafront and find her (only a few 1000 people there!). Thankfully she saw me go past and called "Dad". I walk her back up through town, we find her mother who is walking slowly towards the seafront. She doesn't question why I'm still in town or why I managed to get to our daughter first. The reason why she was alone on the seafront is rather complicated!

So, mid week (18th/19th) I visited my son in Cheshire - between Liverpool and Manchester. He was looked well and his sense of humour had returned. No concerns there.

Also on the 19th, the SW visited the ex and my daughter to remind them of today's contact and pick-up. Okay so far.

That brings us to this weekend and today.

Over the weekend I spoke to my daughter who now was saying she didn't want to come back here with me. The excuses were that she wanted to do other things and go out with others. I pointed out to her mother that under the court order (my turn to use it) I took priority over these other people.

This morning I left home at 6am to be there at 9.30, the earliest I was allowed to collect her. I was told my daughter wouldn't be ready until 10.30, she needed breakfast and a shower.

I received a call to say she was leaving the house at 10.00 (while I was in a cafe several minutes away). I abandoned my own breakfast and walked onto the street, just behind my daughter. Her hair was wet and matted, clearly not brushed.

She was with the neighbours (who were the informants) but the moment they went to walk away my daughter became distressed. We ended up with her sitting on the pavement having a major strop (just like when she was 3 years old). She was screaming so much someone called the police.

I made no effort to continue to the station, nor to head back to the house and just waited for the police to turn up. I showed the officers the court documents (I carry them, just in case) and let them run a check on me. I also made sure they understood that even the community officer knew I was going to be there that morning, and why. The date had been decided 4 weeks earlier.

It turned out one of the coppers had been to the ex's address before. We all ride up to the house where I tell the ex I'm heading home, she starts arguing anyway. I tell her again and make sure the coppers can see what's really going on. I told the police I was convinced my daughter had been 'got at', the ex denied this - of course.

I ended up walking to the station alone.

The day however, was not a complete loss. What it's proved is the depths that the ex will go to. It's also proved my concerns, circulated to my solicitor and the SW weeks ago. It now seems that the ex spoke to my son this morning and he's now very cautious, despite already knowing what is going on (a long chat on Wednesday evening while we shopped for football boots*)

So, an email went to the SW before the train left to bring me home.

My solicitor called me with an update of his own once I was safely home. It turns out that he posted my court statement to the ex last Thursday, this would probably have arrived on Saturday morning. That statement includes the wish that my daughter comes to live with me. I can only guess what nasty things have been said to her because of my statement.

Thursday cannot come soon enough, the court hearing is after lunch but I may not be hungry.

I am now dreading having to go to collect my daughter armed with a warrant and two officers, I can only hope that the ex regrets what she has done.


Topsy


*there's only one sort of football round 'ere.