Thinking of Paula Rawnsley and all of Thomas's family and friends today. Thomas died in February 2015, coming up to 6yrs ago.

Last September I was in Sheffield Coroner's Court with Paula on Day 2 of his inquest when it was adjourned for more expert evidence.

1/LONG THREAD 25+

I just want to talk a little bit about Paula and her search for answers about what happened to Thomas. Paula told me that she had already been labelled as difficult way before Thomas died.

Thomas was a much loved youngest brother and enjoyed a happy childhood at home

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As a teenager Thomas became more anxious and Paula asked for support to keep him at home.

She thought maybe they could get some respite help, or some advice. Thomas used Makaton to communicate and was able to make most of his needs known to those he knew well

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[As an aside this is why I can't stand awareness raising campaigns and anti-stigma campaigns and the message that you just need to ask for help, with anything. They end up distracting from the lack of real world support available; performance over substance]

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Anyhow, Paula asked for support and the result was that Thomas was removed from her care, and that of his loving family, and moved into the 'care' of the State. Social services decided that they would do a better job. I'll highlight (lowlight) what happened next:

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Thomas's family remained close to him, visited often, took him out. It was normal for him to be home sick but Paula got concerned that he had started to become violent and self-harm. She felt something else was going on.

Paula was right.

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Between 2012 and 2013, whilst in 'care', Thomas was abused by a care worker at Norcott House in Liversedge.

Thomas was physically and psychologically abused by Terence Thompson, who received a suspended jail sentence and unpaid community service

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/care-worker-terence-thompson-court-6733714?_ga=2.17010301.576514019.1568574892-1957760970.1566720491

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[Why do crimes against certain people carry less weight? Another aside I was reading sentencing remarks the other day after a woman was convicted of fraud, judge commented she'd 'dedicated large parts of your life to helping disabled people'. Wow. Suspended sentence]

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Back to Thomas, the care worker received his suspended sentence in Feb 2014. Meanwhile Thomas was obviously traumatised by what had happened to him.

Thomas's behaviour became unsettled, he was distressed and increasingly mistrustful of staff.

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The staff in the home where he was abused felt his mistrust of them was a threat to their safety and decided they could no longer support him.

Thomas didn't receive any specialist trauma support, instead he was moved to a secure 'Assessment and Treatment Unit' in Bradford

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Thomas received no specialist support in the ATU.

He was heavily medicated to the point where his family consider he resembled a zombie.

He had unexplained injuries and was subject to physical restraint, this terrified and traumatised young lad, all 4ft 10 of him.

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Thomas's parents grew increasingly concerned about his 'care' and his health.

There was a new threat on the horizon, that he would be moved even further away (to Peterborough).

They complained about his mistreatment to safeguarding, to social care, to anyone who'd listen.

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An independent panel agreed the move to Peterborough should be blocked. They recommended Thomas have his own flat.... but Bradford District Care Trust were unable to provide that, so Thomas ended up shifted to Sheffield, 50 miles from his family, friends and community.

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Thomas was moved to Kingdom House, a @LifewaysGroup 'specialist service'. Thomas arrived deeply traumatised and terrified. He was the only resident.

Paula remained concerned, voicing her fears with Bradford Council staff at a safeguarding meeting a month before Thomas died

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Thomas's parents pleas to bring him back home with a specialist package, again fell on deaf ears. Paula told a local reporter after Thomas died:

'We are bringing him home now at last but not how we wanted to. We are bringing him home to bury him'

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11784901.familys-grief-after-teenager-dies-in-mental-hospital-miles-from-home/

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Paula describes being in a meeting:

'I told them they were killing my son, only to be told we had to wrap it up as the meeting room cost money... 3 weeks later he was dead'

[I'm not sure I can even begin to imagine what that must feel like for Paula]

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The coroner has ruled that none of the above will be explored at Thomas's inquest.

Instead it will focus on the last five days of Thomas's life only. His family hope it will provide answers for how a 20 year old can die from a chest infection.

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This photo was taken the last time @paularawnsley saw her son alive, and the first and only time he met his niece.

The snow was bad the last weekend Thomas was alive so Paula couldn't travel to visit him like she usually did.

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His Dad, Paul, saw him though, saw unexplained carpet burns and that he was struggling to breathe with a chest infection. Thomas collapsed on the Sunday night, he suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital.

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Thomas's life support was turned off, with his family at his bedside, three days later.

This was February 2015. Since then Thomas's family have fought to get answers about what happened. They know that they are perceived as difficult, they know their concerns were ignored.

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I want to talk about Paula for a moment. Paula is short and petite, she's slight. She takes pride in her appearance, her hair always straightened, sharp blunt fringe, lipstick. She smokes, almost nervously, she calls a spade a spade, and she's sociable, likes a night out.

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I think those in authority see Paula and underestimate her.

What they're not picking up on is she's smart, bright and astute. She doesn't say a lot but when she speaks it's worth listening to. Paula is dogged, fighting for Thomas in his lifetime and for 5.5 years since.

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Paula works as a carer and as Thomas's inquest loomed last year she had to quit her job. No employer, however compassionate, is going to pay someone on minimum wage for 5wks to sit in a coroner's court. So she had to quit.

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We caught the tram together back to the station after the aborted inquest and she just mentioned this, she wasn't complaining, was just saying now she'd need to find a new job.

When Coroner Dorries adjourned Thomas's last inquest he said the following:

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'Mrs Rawnsley, how terrible, I know, you came here expecting a 5wk hearing... I can possibly just get to the edges of imagining how disappointed you’ll be but we only get one chance and I’m determined, and I hope I’ve made it plain throughout... '

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'I’m determined within the confines of the law, we’ll have a proper investigation into Thomas’s death. We can’t do it if we charge ahead… its no-one's fault, it’s not as if someone has forgotten to do something...'

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'Please accept my apologies, it’s not for inconvenience, but for the trauma, this has put you through'

That was Coroner Dorries in September 2019.

And he's right, it is traumatic. Unbelievably so.

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Since last year Coroner Dorries has retired and now Ms Abigail Combes is the Coroner conducting the hearing into Thomas's death.

We've also had a global pandemic, not sure anyone could miss that, but it means the re-scheduled hearing was moved to November this year.

28/

Thomas's inquest will start tomorrow, in front of a jury, and is being held at Sheffield Town Hall (to help with social distancing measures).

I'd hoped to attend the opening but couldn't justify the 12hrs on a train to get there and back, travelling into a Tier 3 area.

29/

Paula and Thomas's family will have to travel daily from Bradford (Tier 2) into Sheffield (Tier 3) and she at least has a letter to show anyone who questions her as to why she's travelling.

This is all just additional stress and trauma, on top of unimaginable trauma.

30/

I spoke to Paula last week, after she'd had a zoom meeting with her solicitor Sebastian Del Monte @hodgejonesallen and barrister Emily Formby from @39EssexChambers

She said she 'almost wished it wasn't happening as some key witnesses will be giving evidence remotely'

31/

Paula was also concerned about how close she'd be, or wouldn't be to her legal team. She was worried not being close would 'hamper communications between myself and my legal team'.

Social distancing is of course essential, but I can't help wonder if this is justice?

32/

I know I keep saying I can't imagine, but I honestly can't even come close to the edges of imagining what it's like to be Paula. To have pleaded with people, them ignore you and your son die. To then endure over 5yrs of waiting, the inquest start and be adjourned on Day 2.

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To then find yourself caught up in the maelstrom that is 2020, and to have waited *so* long for your son's inquest, for the scope to have been narrowed and narrowed, and then to not even get to look people in the eye. To not see them, see you, as they give their evidence

34/

I dunno. Just doesn't sit right with me.

Depending on where we get to with lockdown I may try to attend for Coroner's summing up. There aren't enough phonelines to allow media to attend remotely it seems so that's my only option. I'm sorry I can't live tweet any of it.

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Please do share this thread if you've got this far. I think it's important that people consider not just Thomas but also the impact on his family of our justice system.

It can only have traumatised, and re-traumatised. This can't be good enough.

36/ #JusticeforThomasRawnsley

Finally, thanks to my crowdfunders who have covered my costs of attending a couple of the pre-inquest reviews into Thomas's death and his inquest last year (and the expenses I'd already incurred when it was cancelled).

I'll keep you posted as best I can #OpenJustice

/END