Father accused of googling ‘how to make a child disabled’ in shocking benefit fraud case

CHARLIE MALONEY FROM DAILY MAIL

A family court has heard allegations a father was googling ‘how to make a child disabled’ in a bid to give his newborn son brain damage to get more money from the government.

The case came during the first day of an extended transparency project which has allowed journalists to report on every family court for the first time.

It comes amid renewed concern about the way family courts are dealing with cases where there are allegations of child abuse, following the horrific murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif in Woking by her father and step-mother.

In a case at Reading family court, during the first week of the transparency project, lawyers argued against this report being published.

On Monday, the court heard the baby was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital last year and was found to have a fracture in its shin.

The baby’s mother had called the police on the night of the incident, telling a 999 call handler: ‘My husband kill my new born baby please help me please help me’.