Boy, 12, killed foster carer just days after moving in with her

Telegraph

02-06-2025

A 12-year-old boy ran over and killed his foster carer just six days after being placed in her care, an inquest heard.
Marcia Grant, 60, had been working as a foster carer for seven years when she suffered catastrophic injuries as she tried to stop him taking her car outside her home in Sheffield on April 5 2023.
The boy, referred to as Child X, was sentenced to two years in custody in November 2023 after admitting causing Mrs Grant's death by dangerous driving, when a murder charge was dropped.
Sheffield coroner's court was told Mrs Grant and her husband, Delroy, were experienced foster carers who were highly regarded by the council's fostering team.
They were caring for another child, referred to as Child Y, when a call went out to all of Rotherham's foster carers for an emergency placement for Child X on March 30 2023.
The inquest heard Mr and Mrs Grant volunteered to take him, despite the fact they were categorised as only able to take in one child at a time.
They could take another child for up to six days in an emergency situation, the coroner was told.
The six days expired the day Mrs Grant died, the court heard.
Social worker David Wade, who supported the Grants in their fostering, told the inquest that he was consulted about the initial emergency placement of Child X and said he did not agree with the decision because of the potential impact on Child Y, who was clearly being helped by the family.
But Mr Wade said the decision was made by a more senior manager.
The social worker told the court that he did not know the details of Child X's self-reported history of gang-related activity and possession of knives.
He told the coroner that, if he had known, he would have been more robust in his insistence that this was not a suitable placement.
Matthew Boud, who worked at the time as head of service for Rotherham Council's children in care service, signed off on the placement of Child X with the Grants.
He explained how the council had faced difficult 'finely balanced' decisions over emergency placements and that, if the Grants had not agreed to take the boy, he could have ended up in an unsuitable setting, possibly including a hotel or being transported miles from Rotherham.
'We were desperately trying to provide some stability for Child X in that context', he said, adding that he thought it was an 'appropriate decision' in the circumstances.
The inquest opened on Monday with a description of Mrs Grant read out by her daughter, Gemma.
The family said she was a 'soul like no other' with an 'unshakeable ethical compass', and that she was a 'proud and loving mother' with an 'infectious laugh'.