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| Ellie Butler social worker questioned over alleged child offences Ellie Butler social worker questioned over alleged child offences | |
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| A private social worker who oversaw the return of six-year-old Ellie Butler to her violent father, 11 months before he murdered her, is under investigation by police for alleged offences relating to children. | A private social worker who oversaw the return of six-year-old Ellie Butler to her violent father, 11 months before he murdered her, is under investigation by police for alleged offences relating to children. |
| Steve Atherton, 57, from Reading, of the private social work consultancy Services For Children (S4C), was under investigation over an incident unrelated to the Butler case, the Metropolitan police said. | Steve Atherton, 57, from Reading, of the private social work consultancy Services For Children (S4C), was under investigation over an incident unrelated to the Butler case, the Metropolitan police said. |
| The investigation relates to alleged inappropriate filming of children at a swimming pool in Northwood, Greater London, in July. Atherton was interviewed by police under caution earlier this week and was not arrested. Police inquiries into the alleged incident were continuing. | The investigation relates to alleged inappropriate filming of children at a swimming pool in Northwood, Greater London, in July. Atherton was interviewed by police under caution earlier this week and was not arrested. Police inquiries into the alleged incident were continuing. |
| A Met spokesman said: “Police in Hillingdon have received an allegation of alleged inappropriate filming of children at a swimming pool in Pines Close, Northwood, by an individual in July. | A Met spokesman said: “Police in Hillingdon have received an allegation of alleged inappropriate filming of children at a swimming pool in Pines Close, Northwood, by an individual in July. |
| “One man aged in his fifties was interviewed under caution in relation to this matter on 7 November. No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue.” | “One man aged in his fifties was interviewed under caution in relation to this matter on 7 November. No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue.” |
| Atherton qualified as a social worker in 1988. Before joining S4C, he worked in a variety of roles, including as a team manager in fostering and adoption for Reading borough council. | Atherton qualified as a social worker in 1988. Before joining S4C, he worked in a variety of roles, including as a team manager in fostering and adoption for Reading borough council. |
| The Guardian contacted Atherton about the police investigation but he declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Health and Care Professions Council confirmed Atherton was still registered with the organisation as a social worker. | The Guardian contacted Atherton about the police investigation but he declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Health and Care Professions Council confirmed Atherton was still registered with the organisation as a social worker. |
| A spokeswoman for S4C stated: “This allegation is completely untrue.” | A spokeswoman for S4C stated: “This allegation is completely untrue.” |
| Ben Butler was found guilty earlier this year of murdering Ellie in October 2013, 11 months after she was returned to his care following a custody battle. Ellie suffered catastrophic head injuries while being looked after by her father at their home in south London. | Ben Butler was found guilty earlier this year of murdering Ellie in October 2013, 11 months after she was returned to his care following a custody battle. Ellie suffered catastrophic head injuries while being looked after by her father at their home in south London. |
| Butler was also found guilty of child cruelty over a previous shoulder injury and was sentenced to life in prison. Ellie’s mother, Jennie Gray, was sentenced to 42 months for child cruelty and perverting the course of justice. | Butler was also found guilty of child cruelty over a previous shoulder injury and was sentenced to life in prison. Ellie’s mother, Jennie Gray, was sentenced to 42 months for child cruelty and perverting the course of justice. |
| Selena Lynch, the senior coroner for south London, is considering whether to reopen the inquest into Ellie’s death. Lynch said it was unlikely any new facts about the circumstances of the child’s death would be revealed, but an inquest could look at “wider issues”. | Selena Lynch, the senior coroner for south London, is considering whether to reopen the inquest into Ellie’s death. Lynch said it was unlikely any new facts about the circumstances of the child’s death would be revealed, but an inquest could look at “wider issues”. |
| “The management of her [Ellie’s] care by other agencies, such as social and medical services … in my view do fall to be investigated,” Lynch said at a hearing in July. She is due to hold another hearing on whether or not to reopen the inquest on 29 November. | “The management of her [Ellie’s] care by other agencies, such as social and medical services … in my view do fall to be investigated,” Lynch said at a hearing in July. She is due to hold another hearing on whether or not to reopen the inquest on 29 November. |
| S4C was appointed to Ellie’s case by Mrs Justice Hogg during a family court hearing in which Butler and Gray were trying to have their daughter returned to them. Ellie had been removed from them in 2007 after Butler was convicted of grievous bodily harm and child cruelty; Ellie was found to have brain and retinal injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome when she was seven weeks old. Butler’s conviction was quashed in 2010 by the court of appeal because of new scientific evidence on the syndrome. | S4C was appointed to Ellie’s case by Mrs Justice Hogg during a family court hearing in which Butler and Gray were trying to have their daughter returned to them. Ellie had been removed from them in 2007 after Butler was convicted of grievous bodily harm and child cruelty; Ellie was found to have brain and retinal injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome when she was seven weeks old. Butler’s conviction was quashed in 2010 by the court of appeal because of new scientific evidence on the syndrome. |
| S4C was instructed by the family court to carry out an independent assessment and oversee Ellie’s return to her parents, on the recommendation of one of the barristers in the case, Piers Pressdee QC. In a testimonial on the S4C website, Pressdee says: “Steve Atherton and [colleague] Cath Harris are first-rate social workers who provide a first-rate service. I have recommended them in the past and would have no hesitation about recommending them in the future.” | S4C was instructed by the family court to carry out an independent assessment and oversee Ellie’s return to her parents, on the recommendation of one of the barristers in the case, Piers Pressdee QC. In a testimonial on the S4C website, Pressdee says: “Steve Atherton and [colleague] Cath Harris are first-rate social workers who provide a first-rate service. I have recommended them in the past and would have no hesitation about recommending them in the future.” |