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Swansea Social Services
10 May 2007
Failings found over baby's murder
BBC - Social workers failed properly to follow up child abuse allegations about a baby from Swansea who was later murdered, a report has found. Eight days before Aaron Gilbert was killed by his mother's partner in May 2005,
an anonymous caller complained about the way he was being treated. BBC News
AARON'S DAD IN BLAST AT COUNCIL
November 4, 2006
Aaron was subjected to a torrent of abuse.
The father of murdered baby Aaron Gilbert has accused social services of not doing enough to save his son.
Aaron was subjected to a torrent of abuse from Andrew Lloyd, aged 23, who had moved in with Aaron's mother Rebecca Lewis after starting a relationship with her.
He pleaded guilty to murdering the 13-month-old and 21-year-old Lewis was found guilty of familial murder for allowing the abuse to continue.
Now Aaron's father Gareth Gilbert has said more should have been done to protect his son.
Sharon Hurlow, a cousin of Lewis, called social services on two occasions before Lloyd inflicted the fatal injuries to Aaron on May 5 last year.
On April 27, she told them Aaron was bruised and Lloyd was taking drugs. She also said Lewis had been seen out with baby Aaron at 2am.
Swansea social services have a record of the calls, but say Mrs Hurlow gave the wrong address, so a letter sent to Lewis never arrived.
Mr Gilbert said: "I personally think social services should have done much more to protect Aaron.
"I know they are saying that they were given the wrong address, but they should go out to the home when they are told something like that.
"They just sent a letter."
The letter was sent three days after Mrs Hurlow's first phone call.
Mr Gilbert said the accusations were so serious, more should have been done.
He said: "People can always ignore letters, even if it had gone to the right address. If she had got that letter, she would have just ignored it because she'd be afraid she was going to lose Aaron.
"If they had gone out there, they would have known it was the wrong address and could have done something about it.
"If they had visited this address they could have talked to people and found out where she really lived.
"If they had made more of an effort, Aaron could have still been alive."
An internal review is now being carried out by Swansea Council's child protection services.
An independent expert will oversee the review and findings are expected to be published in the new year. A Swansea Council spokesman said it could not comment on Mr Gilbert's accusations until the review had been completed.
He said: "The service offered to the family in this case is subject to a review by the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (formerly the Area Child Protection Committee), as required by Welsh Assembly guidance."
By ROB GREEN
ROB.GREEN@SWWP.CO.UK
Related story:
BBC News - Mother allowed baby son's murder -http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6107138.stm
BBC On-line News
Mother jailed after baby's death
A mother is jailed for failing to prevent her baby son's death while her partner
receives a 24 year term for murder.
Hatred felt for baby death mother
Rebecca Lewis, 21, from Swansea, was convicted at Swansea Crown Court.
Andrew Lloyd, 23, had earlier pleaded guilty to murdering Aaron Gilbert.
Rebecca Lewis's 13-month-old son Aaron Gilbert died from brain damage in May 2005.
He had suffered 50 injuries
South Wales Evening Post
08 January 2007
A Father demanding a public inquiry into the murder of baby Aaron Gilbert is to meet for crunch talks with Swansea Social Services Read article
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