Ethan’s dad Luke Turvey, 37, has now said he was let down by the multiple agencies that were involved in his care (Picture: Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)
The dad of a baby who was left home alone to die by his mum has said his son was let down by agencies who looked after him.
Stacey Davis, 35, of Melksham, Wiltshire, was jailed for child cruelty after her one-year-old son Ethan died with a fractured skull after she went for a car wash.
Ethan’s dad Luke Turvey, 37, and family have now said he was let down by the multiple agencies that were involved in his care.
A Serious Case Review (SCR) published in 2019 also reveals authorities failed to take the father’s concerns into account or seriously enough.
It says the agencies involved the case of Ethan – named ‘Child K’ – included GPs, midwives, health visitors, mental health workers, staff in accident and emergency, paediatric doctors, neo-natal intensive care staff, the police, social services and the family court.
The SCR detailed how Davis’ family members alleged that she ‘had not bonded with Child K, had expressed the view that she ‘hates’ Child K’.
It also says they reported how she previously ‘wished he had died instead of the family dog’ – which the report says she denied.
Baby Ethan Davis was left in his cot for two hours when he died (Picture: Family photo / SWNS)
Luke Turvey (Ethan’s father) and his mother Lorraine Turvey (Ethan’s grandmother) (Picture: Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)
Stacey Davis was jailed for child cruelty (Credits: Daniel Webb / SWNS)
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Luke had an on-off relationship with Davis, but claims he regularly returned because she would threaten to withhold his child from him.
The review said due to the nature of their relationship he would have been unaware of the problems Ethan was experiencing with his mother.
The report found father Luke was often disregarded by officials – even after he sustained a broken nose, allegedly inflicted by Stacey.
The SCR said there was little information, from all the agencies involved with the family, about Mr Turvey, his relationship with Ethan and his role in Ethan’s care.
The review found that ‘generally, there was a lack of consideration of the father as all the focus was on the mother’
It states: ‘Mr KF was not spoken to about the domestic assault and throughout this case there is little information, from all the agencies involved with the family, about Mr KF, his relationship with Child K and his role in Child K’s care.
‘Although there may be some practical challenges, in this case there appeared to be a general lack of curiosity about Mr KF, the parent’s relationship and especially what this meant for Child K, for example reports refer to ‘the parents’ care’ even when they were no longer together.’ Luke believes that social workers were naturally against him – assuming that he was the abuser because he was male.
He said: ‘I think they failed Ethan and our family because of how we were treated and how it was assumed it was me because I’m the man.
Stacey Davis left Ethan at home whilst she went to a car wash (Picture: Facebook)
Davis was jailed for two years (Picture: Wiltshire Police)
Davis left her baby son at home to die in 27C heat with a fractured skull – while she got a car wash and went shopping (Picture: Daniel Webb / SWNS)
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‘It was like they assumed it was me from the off because I’m the male and it’s usually man.
‘Social services should have investigated all allegations that were made against her, rather than ignoring them.
‘They should have spoken to me more, but they did everything through her.
‘At the start, I wasn’t even involved – even with the health visitor, they almost dismiss you.
‘They were coming at me about missed doctor’s appointments but obviously everything was in her name and it was all letter form.
‘I wasn’t living there, how would I know? If she doesn’t tell me there’s an appointment, I wouldn’t know.
‘Everyone who dealt with this has said sorry – the police for example – but still no apology from social services, because they know they really messed up.’
Davis, of Melksham, Wiltshire, was jailed for two years after admitting to leaving Ethan at home.
The family wanted a five-year jail term handed down – because that’s how old his son
Family including his grandmother Lorraine Turvey say social services did not heed their warnings and Ethan’s death could have been prevented.
Ethan was rushed to hospital on 27 June 2018 and pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Ethan had a 15cm skull fracture and had high levels of cannabis in his hair.
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Responding to the family’s allegations, Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services said: ‘This remains a tragic situation and our thoughts are with the family.
‘The Serious Case Review was published in 2019 following the death of a one-year-old in 2018.
‘This review provided important system reflections about how we understand and manage risks to children of a young age.
‘As with all practice learning reviews, we have taken forward recommendations and implemented them into current practices.’
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The report found father Luke was often disregarded by officials – even after he sustained a broken nose, allegedly inflicted by his mum.
