Back in Southampton, where my main PC lives, I have a text file. And in that text file is a list of all the things I've wanted to write about on my blog but not had time for. Since it'll be a few days until I'm back, I want to get this off my chest now...

I shant mention any names in this for obvious reasons, but through a very short grape vine I've heard the following story...

There is a couple, they have two children; A daughter whose age I don't remember and a son who is 8 years old. The son suffers from autism and learning difficulties. If you're not familiar with the effects this has on the families who support such children, you may not understand where my anger is coming from.

This couple have been going through marital problems due to the pressure their son has had on the family. It was deemed that the wife would have a week away from it all, a holiday by herself.

The family had been having respite help (where their son would go into care) for a few days every month. But Social Services recently stopped that help telling them that there was NO respite available anywhere in the county.

So one day whilst the man's wife was away, sister of this man had come round to hell cope with his son. His son attacked the sister, causing severe bruising to her. His Dad managed to get, eventually, his son off and then had to tell his sister to go home because she wasn't helping.

Minutes later, he hears a faint call of "Dad, help! Dad!" from his daughters bedroom. Dad walks in to see his son strangling his daughter (to death). She was visibly blue. So he tried to prise his son off and save her. He wasn't able to and was standing watching her daughter struggle for breath.

He eventually "lost it" and smacked his son. There is - and has never been - any bruising from this incident. Anyhow, his father finally got his son off and he managed to calm him down. Straight after this, the Dad called Social Services (again) to complaint (yet again) that they NEED their respite back again. That they just cannot cope. He explained the situation to Social Services admitting that he has lost it and hit his son to prevent his daughters death.

Social Services, on this phone call, admitted it was their fault for removing the respite. They managed to find respite that day and told the Dad that their help was to be reinstated and that Social Services apologised.

Which is all well and good, until his Dad answered the door on the Monday morning to find two police men sent by Social Services, with a warrant for his arrest for child abuse. He was locked in a cell at the police station and was told that unless he took a caution, thus admitting his child abuse, he would remain locked there.

He needed to get back to his daughter to look after her, so could do nothing but admit responsibility and take the caution.

He has, in the past, worked as a volunteer for charity and promoting help and care for children with learning disabilities. He has earned thousands and tousands of pounds for charity. But now he has a criminal record for child abuse and people will turn their noses up at him.

I just cannot believe Social Services. They are so fucking inept and haven't a single clue about anything to do with social services. It's a farce....

It makes me feel sick. I have an ever growing disgust for Social Services. I really do. I was speechless when I was told.

And I bet you if he hadn't have smacked his kid, we'd be reading, in the local press, an article with the headline "Father neglects daughter to her death".