Shropshire Star

Archie Spriggs: Serious case review launched after seven-year-old's murder

A serious case review will be carried out following the murder of Shropshire schoolboy Archie Spriggs.

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Archie Spriggs' parents were involved in a custody battle when the youngster was killed

The seven-year-old boy’s mother Lesley Speed was jailed for life for smothering him at their home on the day she was due in court for custody proceedings over her son.

Shropshire Council’s social services were among the agencies that had dealings with the youngster’s family prior to the murder, which happened on September 21 in Rushbury, near Church Stretton .

Now an inquiry has been announced to look at any lessons that should be learned from the death.

The independent chairman of Shropshire Safeguarding Children’s Board Ivan Powell, said: “The SSCB has already commissioned a serious case review which will consider the way in which agencies worked both individually and together in this case, and explore whether there is a need to improve the way they work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in Shropshire.

“The family have been informed of this and they will be given the opportunity to contribute to the review process.”

Archie was killed by his mother Lesley Speed, right, last year

Archie’s father Matthew Spriggs claims authorities dismissed his concerns about Speed’s behaviour, missed opportunities to prevent the killing and failed his son.

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court unanimously convicted Speed on Monday after hearing how she was found with self-inflicted cuts to her neck, arms and wrists, having killed Archie at the property near Wall under Heywood.

In his victim impact statement Mr Spriggs told the court: “There were so many failures and missed opportunities to safeguard Archie but because the concerns were raised by myself – his father – they were dismissed.”

Speed had suffered from a depressive illness for several years, which the court heard led to a “distorted and negative” pattern of thinking.

She denied murdering him and claimed he committed suicide. She was jailed for a minimum of 18 years.

The 44-year-old and Mr Spriggs were embroiled in bitter custody battle over who Archie should live with.

Both parents made complaints separately to his school and GP about each other emotionally abusing him, and since May 2017 Mr Spriggs could only see his son at a social services contact centre.

Senior staff at Rushbury CE Primary raised concerns about Archie’s welfare.

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