A 13-year-old boy has filed a lawsuit against his UK-based parents for forcibly taking him to Africa and enrolling him in a boarding school before returning to the United Kingdom without him.
The boy, whose identity remains protected, reached out to the British Consulate and a child welfare organization, alleging abandonment by his parents. He claims they acted under the pretext of addressing his alleged involvement in gang activities in London—an accusation he strongly denies.
In a hearing that began on November 26, the boy’s legal team argued that his parents’ decision amounted to “physical and emotional abandonment.” They are requesting that the court order his return to the UK, where he was born and has lived his entire life.
The parents’ lawyers defended their actions, stating they acted within their parental rights to address concerns about the boy’s behavior. According to Deirdre Fottrell KC, representing the boy, the parents believed removing him from the UK was the only way to mitigate perceived risks.
Fottrell criticized the parents’ decision as “extraordinary,” emphasizing that the boy is experiencing emotional, psychological, and possibly physical harm in the African environment. She described his placement at the boarding school as “brutal,” noting the inadequate food, tuition, and mistreatment he allegedly faced.
The boy, described as polite and articulate with a love for football and cooking, claimed he was taken to Africa under false pretenses, believing it was to visit an ill relative. Instead, his parents abandoned him at the school.
In court, Fottrell revealed that the boy’s mother admitted to physical abuse while in the UK. The boy reportedly feels “upset, confused, and distressed” but insists he has not been involved in any gang activities.
Judge Mr. Justice Hayden highlighted the restrictive measures previously imposed on the boy in the UK, including phone location monitoring, which he described as “unbearable” for most teenagers.
Rebecca Foulkes, representing the father, argued that the boy’s behavior had deteriorated in the UK, citing reports of lateness, staying out late, and suspected involvement in criminal activities. Teachers had raised concerns about his social vulnerability, noting that he was seen with expensive clothes and phones and had images of knives and individuals holding knives on his phone.
Foulkes maintained that the parents acted out of genuine concern for their son’s safety, believing the structured environment in Africa offered better care and education while removing him from negative influences in the UK.
The court will continue hearing the case, with Judge Hayden tasked with determining whether the parents’ actions were in the boy’s best interest or if he should be allowed to return to the UK.
