Council failings blamed after killing of Islington teen

Lance Scott Walker, a vulnerable care leaver, was placed in unregulated accommodation by Islington Council before he was stabbed to death by another resident in August 2016.

Lance, a former pupil of St Joseph’s Primary School in Highgate Hill, was killed by Idris Hassan, another care leaver, in a knife attack.

Both 18-year-olds were in accommodation run by private company Urban Youth Flex at 23 Gledwood Gardens, Hayes.

23 Gledwood Gardens, where Lance was attacked by Idris Hassan (Image: Google)

An inquest to determine whether failings by local authorities in Islington and Ealing, West London NHS Trust and Urban Youth Flex contributed to Lance’s death concluded on Monday (December 5).

Jurors determined that the decision by Islington Council to use Urban Youth Flex to provide Lance with accommodation was “unsatisfactory”.

Islington Council had no contract detailing its expectations of the Ealing care provider.

Jurors found that there was insufficient evidence that the authority showed suitable oversight of Lance during his placement.

Islington Council moved Lance to the Urban Youth Flex's property  in May 2016, shortly after his 18th birthday.

Hassan, who had a history of psychosis and had been sectioned for five months less than a year earlier, was moved to the same accommodation by Ealing Council three months later.

A disagreement between the two teenagers escalated on August 15, 2016, when Hassan attacked Lance with a knife and killed him.

Hassan pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility at a trial at the Old Bailey in 2017, and was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

Idris Hassan pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility in April 2017 (Image: Police)

The inquest at West London Coroner’s Court in Fulham also found that Ealing Council and NHS West London Trust failings “probably” caused or contributed to Lance’s death. Urban Youth Flex was found to have “possibly” caused or contributed to his death.

The inquest recorded that Urban Youth Flex failed to inform either Islington or Ealing Council about multiple incidents between the teenagers that required the intervention of emergency services just days before Lance’s death.

Jurors said Ealing Council had failed to properly inform Urban Youth Flex about Hassan’s risk of “harming others”. Hassan had previous convictions for possession of a knife and assault.

West London NHS Trust was found to have conducted an “unacceptable assessment” of the risks Hassan posed to others from the end of June 2016.

The outcome of the inquest raised questions about the use of unregulated housing providers for older teenagers in care settings.

Speaking before the start of the inquest, Patricia O’Neill, Lance’s aunt, said: “We have spent six agonising years fighting to have access to the truth about Lance’s death.

“This wasn’t a tragic accident. If those supposed to be looking after Lance had done their jobs, he would still be alive today. Both Lance and Idris were failed, and Lance paid for it with his life”.

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “We were devastated by Lance's murder by another resident in his supported accommodation. Our thoughts remain with his family, who we know have suffered greatly.

“After the terrible tragedy in 2016 we commissioned a thorough independent investigation of our role in this case and have put additional safeguards in place, above and beyond those required by law and best practice guidance.

“We will very carefully consider the inquest findings, learning all we can and making any changes we need to make children safer.”

An Ealing council spokesperson said: “This tragic death remains deeply upsetting, and we again offer our sincere condolences to Lance’s family.

“Ealing understand the concerns expressed by the jury today, many of which were found also by Ealing’s Independent Safeguarding Adults Board when a management case review was held in 2018.  Much scrutiny, challenge, learning has taken place following that review resulting in changes to local practice.”

“We will very carefully consider the inquest findings and ensure that we continue to learn and change practice where needed.”

Both Islington and Ealing Council said they supported regulation of the type of accommodation used to house Lance, and that they have raised the issue with central government.

NHS West London Trust said in a statment: “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lance for their tragic loss. It was acknowledged at the inquest that in the years since Lance’s death we have tackled many issues to improve clinical practice in order to help avoid incidents like this one happening.  

"We will continue to work closely with other health, care and local authority sector agencies to learn from this episode to improve the care we provide to young adults and their families."

Urban Youth Flex was dissolved in January 2017.