UK mother who let her two sons sleep in her bed has them taken away by judge

The boys, both under four, have been placed for adoption following the court proceedings, which began when authorities spotted bruises on them. Photo / Getty Images

A UK mother who allowed her two children to sleep in her bed has had them taken away from her by a family court judge after social workers raised concerns.

The boys, who are both under four, have been placed for adoption following the court proceedings, which began when authorities spotted bruises on them.

Judge Peter Greene said the youngsters' mother had failed to act on professionals' advice against "co-sleeping" and continued to reject advice about feeding.

He outlined his conclusions in a ruling after analysing the case at a private hearing in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.

Professionals became concerned about the younger boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after social workers had been told to supervise and support the family. Checks revealed bruises and a broken wrist when he was months old.

Social workers also said the children's mother was "continually ignoring their advice against having him in bed with her" and rejecting advice about feeding.

In his conclusion, Judge Greene said litigation had begun after the older boy's leg was bruised when he was a few months old.

He said that one child was unintentionally injured by his father's use of "excessive force" and the other probably hurt as a result of the "rough, abrupt manner" in which he was handled by his mother.

He also concluded that the boys' mother "was ignoring advice against co-sleeping".

Judge Greene said evidence showed that the couple loved their children and would not deliberately hurt them. But he said evidence also showed the children's mother "always thinks that she knows best".

The judge said she was "brusque and physically forceful" with her children and dismissive of professionals.

He said he was concerned for the children's safety and that adoption was the only realistic option.