[2024] UKUT 401 (AAC)

Following the grant of permission to appeal, the Appellant’s solicitor supplied 59 pages of evidence in the form of correspondence between the Appellant and D’s school and various reports and plans for D produced by the local Children’s Services Department. This evidence was generated from 2015 to 2017 that is before D made her allegations of sexual abuse. The solicitor did not provide submissions on how this evidence was said to support the Appellant’s case. We note that the Children’s Services evidence demonstrates D’s consistent refusal to have contact with, or return to live with her mother the Appellant, but that the Appellant, whilst retaining a close interest in arrangements for her daughter’s care, did not place any pressure on D to change her mind about contact or living arrangements.

Subsequently, a further 352 pages of evidence were supplied by the Appellant’s solicitors. This evidence was in the form of correspondence, reviews, plans and reports related to D’s education, health and care arrangements. This evidence largely told the same story as the 59 pages of evidence previously supplied although we note that the report of a detailed Children’s Services assessment of D stated:

“There remain gaps in our understanding and questions about the extent of [D’s] behaviours as a result of the above. There is a feeling that there is more that has impacted on [D] that we have not identified as of yet.”