Carer, 11, must be rehoused

An 11-year-old child carer whose family is at the centre of a "campaign of hatred" won a landmark High Court battle for the legal right to be considered for rehousing. In a ruling which could assist other such children, a judge said a local council was under a legal duty to consider accommodating Simon Bradford in a safer place.

He ruled that the London Borough of Tower Hamlets had acted unlawfully in failing to assess Simon's individual needs under the provisions of the 1989 Children Act.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Kay described how Simon, who has helped to care for his severely disabled mother since the age of four, was bullied and taunted because of her condition.