Dad begged social services to save son, 7, strangled to death by mum

The father of a boy strangled to death by his mum has told an inquest his concerns were ‘repeatedly dismissed’ by social services.

Archie Spriggs, seven, was killed by Lesley Speed in September 2017 on the day of a family court custody hearing.

His dad, Matthew Spriggs, told Shropshire Coroner’s Court he had previously reported bruises he found on his son to Shropshire Council in 2013 and 2014.

He said he also contacted social services in 2017, after Archie allegedly disclosed ‘several types of abuse and neglect’ by his mother.

The inquest heard that Mr Spriggs phoned social services in the months before Archie died, asking them: ‘What is it going to take for you to investigate?

‘Bruises? Broken bones? Or my son to be killed by her?’

Social services allegedly responded: ‘It won’t come to that’.

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Mr Spriggs stated that on one occasion in 2013, Archie allegedly told him his mum had held him upside down and shook him.

He said he then told social services he had photographic evidence of his injuries, but said they ‘did not seek to take this from me’.

In a statement, he continued: ‘In 2014 I again reported to the Shropshire social services after bruises appeared on Archie’s body, but the social services did not appear to undertake any investigation.

‘Over the May half-term of 2017, Archie disclosed to me and my wife, on separate occasions, about several types of abuse and neglect he was subjected to at his mother’s.

‘I reported all of this to Shropshire social services.

‘After several minutes on hold I was then told that social services would not be investigating, as there was no grounds to investigate, as their previous investigation had not shown any threat level.

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‘From June 2010 I did everything so that Archie and I could have contact with each other. Throughout my son’s life, everything I did was for him.

‘I contacted many organisations and I do not believe that any of the organisations took my concerns seriously.’

Speed strangled Archie to death at their home in Rushbury, near Church Stretton, on September 21 2017, before attempting to take her own life.

She was jailed for life in March last year and will serve at least 18 years before being considered for parole.

The inquest began today and is expected to last for two weeks.