Social services probe on dead baby as mother is held

Bobby Harris died in hospital from multiple injuries after ambulance crews were called to his mother Collette's home in Bexleyheath after Christmas.

Ms Harris, 29, and her 24-year-old boyfriend were arrested and then re-arrested by police after a post-mortem revealed the toddler's horrific injuries.

Social services at Bexley council had had "no dealings" with Bobby and he was not on the "at risk" register.

Neighbours said Ms Harris had moved in a few months ago so investigations will centre on whether the family was being looked after by social workers at a previous location.

Bobby was pronounced dead at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup at 10.23am on Monday, less than an hour after he was taken away in an ambulance from his home. Neighbours called the family "reclusive" and "rude".

Neil Davey, 24, said: "They were fairly reclusive, we hardly ever saw them. But the investigation has shocked me."

Tony Gater, 42, said: "The couple did annoy some people. They just appeared rude. A couple of times neighbours said good morning to them and were blanked.

"The fella kept parking his dirty white work van on the grass outside the house. But he isn't the sort of bloke you thought you could quietly mention it to."

Two touching tributes with flowers and teddy bears lay on the doorstep of the house where Bobby lived with his nine-year-old brother Kyle, his mother and her partner.

One note left by best friend "Georgie" read: "I will miss you so much. You always give me a big cuddle when I come round to see you. I am missing you and Kyle lots."

Georgie's mother, Claire Dobson, 29, said she found it hard to believe Collette had harmed her son: "She seemed like a good mum, always checking on both the kids. The baby was a lovely cheerful thing. Every time I saw him, he was smiling."

Friends of Ms Harris's parents, Tom and Gloria, said the couple were adamant their daughter was innocent.

One said: " Tom and Gloria are in a terrible state. They are mourning the death of their grandchild, but also the fact that they feel there has been a terrible mistake.

"They know Collette had nothing to do with Bobby's death."

The Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command, based at Stratford, is leading the inquiry.

A Met spokesman said: "On 29 December a 29-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were arrested in connection with the investigation and later bailed. On 31 December, they were re-arrested and have since been bailed to appear at a south London police station in February."