SOCIAL services bosses are under fire for refusing to explain why a persistent teenage offender was let loose in Basingstoke when he was supposed to be in their care.

The father of the 15-year-old and Basingstoke MP Andrew Hunter are demanding to know why social services, who were supposed to house the youngster outside Basingstoke while he waited to be sentenced for a number of burglaries and car thefts, instead gave him £20 and sent him away.

When The Gazette tried to ask Hampshire's head of social services, Terry Butler, why this happened, we were prevented from talking to him.

The press office instead issued a statement saying: "Hampshire Social Services is unable to comment on any of the specifics related to this particular case for reasons of confidentiality."

The statement added that local authority accommodation for young people on remand is limited, and that this is further complicated when particular conditions - such as having to house the youth in a particular area - are attached to the remand.

But Mr Hunter said people have the right to know more about what happened to the teenager.

He told The Gazette: "I cannot understand the circumstances in which it can be right or justified to abandon a 15-year-old with £20 when he is supposed to be in the care of the local authority.

"I think many Basingstoke residents will be concerned that a teenager with this record is let out."

He has promised to personally take up the matter with social services.

The boy's father said someone needs to be accountable for what happened.

"I would like to know why they did this - not just for my son, but for the next child that they give £20 to or tell to go home," he said.

"Is it social services' policy to let them walk the streets? How many times have they done this in the past, and how many kids that they have done this to have offended again?"

The teenager was arrested last Friday for breaching his remand conditions by returning to Basingstoke.

He is now in custody awaiting sentence.