'No justice' - family loses fight for charges to be brought over death of Blake Fowler

The Daily Echo can exclusively reveal that the battle to persuade prosecutors to rethink their decision not to press any charges against Blake’s mother Sarah Spacagna and her partner Peter Meek, in connection with the youngster’s death, can go no further.

The devastating news for those fighting for Blake’s story to be put before a jury comes after an appeal launched by the seven-year-old’s grandmother – Sarah’s mother – to the highest level of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed.

• Voice of the Echo: The pain goes on for family of little Blake

Appeals There is now nowhere else for grandmother Jane Extance to go in the battle for a court hearing, having seen appeals at local, regional and now national level of the CPS turned down.

Bosses at the CPS confirmed they considered all options – including charges of murder, manslaughter, child cruelty and neglect – but ultimately felt there was insufficient evidence to get convictions in a court.

They defended their decision once again, explaining that while there is “no doubt” Blake died of a head injury, there is no evidence he was injured as a result of a deliberate unlawful act.

They added that although there was evidence to show his mum and Mr Meek had neglected Blake, there was again insufficient evidence to show they had done so “wilfully”.

With no other legal avenues to embark upon, Blake’s distraught grandmother has been forced to admit defeat.

Ms Extance, who has not spoken to her daughter since Blake’s death, said: “I honestly thought we would get justice for Blake and that he would get his day in court. I really thought somebody would take note and put it right. To me it is as if nobody cares.

“All I have thought about is that little boy. I believe the evidence provided is enough for a jury to decide whether to convict the accused for the charges at the time of arrest.

“I am angry and I am disappointed.”

Ms Extance, the grandmother of Blake, who died of head injuries in 2011, wrote to the CPS in February to ask it to rethink its decision not to prosecute anyone in connection with Blake’s death.

It came after the publication of a Serious Case Review (SCR) into Blake’s life, which laid bare the horrific scale of abuse he suffered – which she believed justified prosecutors to re-examine the case.

As previously reported, the SCR found a catalogue of failings by agencies across the board, which could have acted long before the boy’s death to protect him from harm.

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

It documented how Blake was exposed to domestic violence in the home, on one occasion even being given vodka to drink.

Blake died in December 2011 while in the care of Mr Meek, who was at the time on bail accused of assaulting Ms Spacagna. Under those bail conditions he should not have been in contact with the family.

But the pair had rekindled their relationship and were living in secret at an address in Cromarty Road, Lordshill, Southampton, when Blake suffered serious head injuries after it was claimed that he had fallen from a sofa. Mr Meek and his brother Phillip, who was in the house at the time, were arrested but subsequently released without charge.

Blake’s inquest, held in November 2013, revealed a number of inconsistencies surrounding the circumstances of his death.

There was also evidence given that instead of calling for an ambulance straight away, Mr Meek called Ms Spacagna, who was out shopping, over some concern that he would be in trouble with police for breaking his bail conditions.

In recording an open verdict, coroner Keith Wiseman described the couple as telling a “plethora of lies” to the authorities over what had happened, and added that it was “a disgraceful failure to prioritise the needs of Blake”.

Hampshire police subsequently reviewed the case and publicly apologised for the initial probe, which they said had fallen well short of expected standards.

Ms Spacagna, Peter Meek and Phillip Meek were all arrested and once again quizzed over Blake’s death.

The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently decided that there was not sufficient evidence to press ahead with charges and they were released.

The pair soon fled their home and are in hiding.

As a result of the SCR in February, under the Victim Right to Review scheme, Ms Extance asked for the case to be reviewed by the CPS.

Sarah Spacagna and Peter Meek

But a letter to the family dashed any glimmer of hope they had left of getting justice for Blake.

A CPS spokesperson said: “Although there was evidence that Peter Meek and Sarah Spacagna had neglected Blake so as to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health, there was insufficient evidence to show that they had done so wilfully.”

They added: “The file was sent to the CPS Appeals and Review Unit, which conducted a careful and independent review of the original decision and reached the conclusion that although there was no doubt that Blake died as a result of a head injury, it would not have been possible for a court to be sure that Blake was injured as a result of a deliberate unlawful act rather than an accident.

‘Insufficient evidence’ “Therefore, it was concluded that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

“We fully understand how difficult this news is for Ms Extance and her family and we hope that our explanation will help her to understand why we cannot bring any criminal proceedings against any individuals in this case.”

The Daily Echo was unable to contact Miss Spacagna and Mr Meek.