A couple sewed tracking devices into their children's toys to monitor their whereabouts in foster care, a Family Court judge has revealed. The parents, who have three young children in foster care and a fourth on the way, were discovered after foster carers found a small tracker stitched into a bag given to one of the children.
Judge Malcolm Sharpe, presiding in Liverpool, stated that two further devices were found in toys given to the children weeks earlier, each concealed by being sewn into the toy. The parents initially denied knowledge, with the mother later claiming sole responsibility, citing concerns about bruising on the children after meetings with her. However, the judge rejected this explanation, noting she could not explain how tracking would help with bruising.
In his judgment, Judge Sharpe said: 'I do not believe what the parents tell me... In my judgment, the decision to use tracking devices was a parental decision and one in which the father was a full participant.' He added that the devices were part of a plan to know where the children were, 'either in terms of where they were living, or from where they could be snatched. And probably both.'
The judge also criticised the parents for refusing to hand over their phones for examination, calling it a 'concerted effort to conceal the truth.' He urged them to reflect on his findings and address the damage caused to their care proceedings.
