Family of Blake Fowler, who died after years of years of abuse, bid to have criminal case reviewed

The grandmother of the seven-year-old Southampton schoolboy is now writing to the Crown Prosecution Service to ask them to review their decision not to prosecute anyone in connection with Blake's care.

Jane Extance said the horrific scale of the abuse Blake suffered for most of his life, which was laid bare in a report published yesterday, justifies prosecutors re-examining the case.

As reported by the Daily Echo the Serious Case Review was commissioned to examine whether more could have been done to protect Blake who subsequently died from serious head injuries in December 2011.

The review found that there were a catalogue of failings by agencies across the board who could have acted long before Blake's death to protect him from harm.

In its hard hitting conclusions the report by the Local Safeguarding Children's Board said that Blake suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect.

• Neglected Blake Fowler, 7, left watching porn, given vodka to drink and lived in fear before his death>>>

It documented how Blake was exposed to domestic violence in the home between his mother Sarah Spacagna and his step father Peter Meek.

The youngster was often seen with bruises that were explained away as 'accidents' by his mother and was admitted to hospital with swollen genitals and facial injuries that, although raised the suspicions of health professionals, never led to any action being taken.

Blake Fowler

Workmen on the street near to Blake's home even reported their concerns to the NSPCC having seen Blake with injuries and hearing screaming coming from his home.

Blake had also confided that he was exposed to pornographic film whilst trying to get to sleep on a sofa. On occasions he was heard telling other children at his school that he got bruises from his 'daddy'. When he hit another child he explained that was what his dad did to him.

The report also documented an occasion when Sarah was witnessed in a supermarket attacking Blake by hitting him, turning him upside down and threatening him. Although police did investigate the incident no further action was taken.

Legal papers concerning a previous violent relationship also claim Blake was given vodka to drink before he was school age.

Ms Extance, who wrote to social services with her concerns over Blake's care months before he died, said: “Given what is documented in the report, some of which I had no idea of, I will be seeking legal advice and writing to ask the Crown Prosecution Service to look again at their decision in light of this review.”

• BLAKE FOWLER: Agencies apologise for failings that led to young boy's death >>

In a statement Hampshire police said each of the instances of possible neglect and abuse outlined in the review were investigated and all the evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, the body who decides whether to pursue a prosecution.

In a statement the CPS said: “The Crown Prosecution Service considered carefully the file of evidence provided by Hampshire Constabulary in relation to the death of Blake Fowler. We were asked to consider if there was sufficient evidence and whether it was in the Public's Interest to prosecute a range of potential offences including child cruelty through neglect and manslaughter. After careful consideration we were not satisfied there was there sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone with any offence.”

Blake Fowler

THE CPS also said there was insufficient to pursue charges against Mr Meek and Ms Spacagna in connection with Blake's death.

Both were arrested in April last year after the police reopened the investigation into whether anyone was responsible for inflicting the injuries from which Blake died or allowing them to happen.

At the time he was in the care of Mr Meek, who should not have been in contact with the family due to bail conditions he was on for an alleged assault on Ms Spacagna which was later dropped.

During the inquest into Blake's death, coroner Keith Wiseman recorded an open verdict and criticised the couple for telling a 'plethora of lies' over what happened to Blake who Mr Meek said had hit his head after falling from a sofa whilst they were staying at his grandparents house in Cromarty Road.

Hampshire police issued an apology after the initial investigation which they said was unsatisfactory. They rearrested Mr Meek and his brother Phillip who was in the house at the time on suspicion of murder, and causing or allowing the death of a child. Ms Spacagna was also arrested on suspicion of causing or allowing the death of a child.

In December the CPS confirmed none of them would be charged with any offence.