Law & Order UK Season 5 Episode 2 Safe
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00:00And the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders, these are their stories.
00:10Big smile for me, Tom.
00:13I can get a shot where they're both smiling.
00:17Must be nice, though. Twins always have someone to play with.
00:21Any child?
00:23Yeah.
00:24I've got to buy one, get them free.
00:26Brian!
00:27Brian!
00:28Brian!
00:30Brian!
00:32Are you okay?
00:33No, my little boy's gone. He was just there.
00:36I've got someone to take it.
00:38Oh, my God, Brian!
00:39Brian!
00:40Brian!
00:41Brian!
00:41Brian!
00:43Brian!
00:52Brian Stark, two last week.
00:55He was on the merry-go-round in the yellow car.
00:58Mum turned away for no more than 30 seconds, looked back, and he was gone.
01:03Where's the ride operator?
01:04He's having a pub lunch. He left his 15-year-old son in charge.
01:09Although he wasn't being in charge.
01:11Yeah, he got distracted. He doesn't remember the kid or the mum.
01:15And he was on, we could call him.
01:16Kayla, this is DS Ronnie Brooks, Kayla Stark.
01:20Have you found Ryan yet?
01:22Well, we've got a team working very hard on it. The more information you can give us now, the quicker we can find him.
01:27Could Ryan have got down from the ride by himself?
01:29I don't know. He's been on it loads of times. No, he wouldn't just get off.
01:34Was anyone else with you?
01:36I was supposed to meet my ex, Jimmy, but he never showed.
01:39Is Jimmy Ryan's dad?
01:42Yeah.
01:43And is that Ryan's toy?
01:45Yeah, he takes it everywhere. He can't sleep without it.
01:48Well, we could use that. See, the police dogs can pick up Ryan's scent from that.
01:54If you don't mind.
01:57Thanks, Kate.
02:02Try not to worry. We'll do our very best to help you through it.
02:05Karen?
02:07Okay, let Karen take you home. You can get a few things and we'll meet you down at the station.
02:16Right.
02:16Snatching a kid from a ride right in front of his own mum. This bastard's got balls.
02:23Yeah, and I know what I'd like to do with them.
02:55How can a kid get snatched in front of 20-year-old witnesses and no-one see anything?
03:21Gov, you know what it's like when you put your kid on the ride. They're having the time of their life.
03:25You're just watching your own kid. You're not minding anybody else's, are you?
03:29Well, half the mums and dads caught the moment on their mobile phones.
03:32Absolutely.
03:33Yeah, and just go through all the photos and video footage we can get our hands on.
03:37That's going to be a problem. She's already trawling through all the CCTV footage with her team.
03:43The dad was supposed to make contact today. You know, this is probably just a custody thing.
03:48Yeah, the dad apparently had access once a month and he was meant to meet them at the merry-go-round 20 minutes before Ryan was snatched.
03:56He never showed up.
03:57Maybe he did and she never saw him.
04:00Yeah, well, if the dad did take the kid, hopefully he's safe.
04:04Yeah, right, because apparently dads never harm their own kids, do they?
04:08Yeah, and all I'm saying, Matt, is if this is a custody thing, then he's going to look after the kid, take care of him.
04:14Well, he couldn't have got out of the country because the missing child alert was actually within the hour.
04:19Kayla's waiting in there.
04:21Karen's collected the kid's toothbrush for DNA just in case, but let's rule out dad before we consider any other options.
04:29You've got to find him before it gets dark.
04:40He hates the dark.
04:44Kayla, Ryan's dad.
04:47Jimmy.
04:48Yeah, Jimmy.
04:51Has he ever missed a visit before?
04:53No.
04:54He's always on at me for extra visits.
04:56Do you think he might have taken Ryan?
05:00He wouldn't.
05:04Well, maybe he felt he wasn't getting enough time with Ryan.
05:09I don't know.
05:12And do you have a boyfriend now?
05:16No.
05:16So it's just you and Ryan in the flat and his dad comes and visits once a month?
05:22Yeah.
05:23Look, Jimmy, I'd took Ryan.
05:29He wouldn't.
05:31Have you got a mobile?
05:32Of course.
05:34Do you take any pictures today of Ryan on the ride?
05:37No, my card's full.
05:39But you have photographs of Ryan on there, yeah?
05:42Yeah.
05:44Um, I took...
05:47I took this one last week.
05:51And it's birthday.
05:53Ryan's father is Jimmy Burton, 25, carpet fitter.
06:04His uniform's been round his flat, no-one home.
06:07And his mobile goes straight to answer phone.
06:10So does his home number.
06:11So we're on to him.
06:13Well, we've got to search out for his car and we've added his details to Ryan's alert.
06:17Well, if he did take his kid and do a runner, someone must know what he was planning to do.
06:21Maybe his best mate.
06:22Or the grandma.
06:28My Jimmy loves that boy enough for ten dads.
06:32And only gets to see him once a month.
06:34Yeah.
06:35Being away from the kids can break a dad's heart.
06:38Yeah, break a gran's heart and all.
06:41But grandparents don't have rights.
06:43Why did Jimmy and Kayla split up?
06:46They were just kids themselves when they had Ryan.
06:49They never stood a chance.
06:50So was the break-up amicable?
06:54Well, the only thing they argued about was Ryan.
06:57Jimmy wanted to see more of him.
07:00But Kayla didn't want that.
07:03She was all right about visits till six months ago.
07:08And she cut Jimmy's access down once a month.
07:11And that upset Jimmy?
07:12He told me he'd had it with her messing him about.
07:16He wanted it sorted.
07:18Enough to take, Ryan?
07:20No, no.
07:21He was doing it by the book.
07:22He got himself a solicitor.
07:24To get more access?
07:25To get custody.
07:31Oh, no.
07:32No, I know it looks bad.
07:34But I swear to God,
07:36Jimmy wouldn't do anything
07:37to mess up his chances of getting Ryan for good.
07:40I reckon Glamour grand straight up.
07:46So do I.
07:47But maybe Jimmy hasn't told her everything.
07:50If he takes that kid without Payless permission,
07:53even for one day,
07:54the family court thing is going to go against him.
07:58Well,
07:59you don't know how it feels
08:00not to be able to see your kids, Matt.
08:02No, Tom.
08:08Sarah's still not returning your calls, then?
08:10Oh.
08:11She's probably busy, eh?
08:12I've been through all the footage
08:16covering the merry-go-round.
08:18This is Kayla
08:19and Ryan arriving.
08:21This is Kayla
08:22watching Ryan on the ride.
08:24What about the ride itself, Ange?
08:26Can you see Ryan on it?
08:28If we could,
08:30we'd know who took him.
08:32None of the cameras are clear enough
08:33to see who's on it.
08:35And no sign of Jimmy Burton.
08:38I'm sorry.
08:41Ryan's on the at-risk register.
08:43Five months ago,
08:44one of the nursery staff
08:45called social services
08:46after spotting some bruising on his legs.
08:49Kayla claims that he got it
08:51falling off the top of the slide in the park.
08:58Last visit was a week ago.
09:04Ryan's caseworker,
09:05Bernice Bradley,
09:06is on holiday,
09:07so you'll have to wait
09:09for her last report,
09:10but the rest are in there.
09:11Why aren't the reports
09:12filed immediately after a visit?
09:14Bernie's got 15 cases on the go.
09:17It can be a week or two
09:18before a caseworker
09:19gets time to write a report.
09:21And how long's Ryan
09:22been on the register?
09:23Five months.
09:24He had some bruising,
09:25but we think it was accidental.
09:27Well, then,
09:27why is he still on the register?
09:28His mum's on her own.
09:30She's vulnerable.
09:32In what way?
09:33She's young,
09:34inexperienced,
09:35no family support.
09:36She needed some help.
09:38What kind of help?
09:39We got her some parenting classes.
09:41She's doing really well.
09:42So you have no major concerns
09:44over Ryan's welfare?
09:45With a bit more support from us,
09:47she could be a really good mum.
09:51Why didn't Kayla tell us
09:53about social services herself?
09:55Gov,
09:56her focus is on
09:57getting her kid back.
09:58That's going to be
09:59the last thing on her mind.
10:01Any news on Jimmy?
10:02No sign of him.
10:04You've spoken to his boss?
10:06And his work colleagues.
10:07Everyone thinks
10:07he's a very decent bloke.
10:09Gov.
10:09If he has got Ryan,
10:13maybe we can make him see sense
10:15to bring the boy in.
10:17An appeal?
10:17Yeah.
10:18That way,
10:19we can get to Jimmy directly.
10:20Wait,
10:21we don't want to scare him off too much.
10:22He's already gone to ground.
10:24Don't worry.
10:25I'll get a psychologist
10:26to phrase the appeal.
10:27In such a way that if Jimmy has got Ryan,
10:32you'll feel compelled
10:33to bring him in.
10:39If you've got my Ryan,
10:42you need to bring him back.
10:45We need him home
10:47with his family.
10:47He needs his mum.
10:58Please bring my baby back.
11:04Ladies and gentlemen,
11:05we're not taking any questions
11:07at this point.
11:10If you think you've seen Ryan,
11:12please give us a call
11:14at the police incident room.
11:15And if you've got Ryan,
11:18Ryan's mum
11:19and dad
11:21love him
11:23very, very much.
11:25So,
11:26just pick up the phone.
11:28That's all you have to do.
11:30We need Ryan back.
11:36Thank you very much.
11:40No questions today.
11:43You'll have plenty of chances
11:45when we know a bit more.
11:47Was I all right?
11:49Yeah,
11:49you'll go at most
11:50for people quite a little too.
11:53But,
11:53did I look okay?
11:57Yeah.
12:05Are we sure
12:06he's not just some nutter?
12:08Well,
12:08reception checked his ID.
12:10They reckon he's legit.
12:11Let's find out then,
12:15shall we?
12:18Have you found him yet?
12:19Jimmy Burton?
12:20Yeah.
12:22Take a seat?
12:23I came the minute
12:24I heard the appeal.
12:26Please tell me you're safe.
12:30Please tell me
12:31you found my son.
12:32This is crazy.
12:52Why do you think I'd take him?
12:53Kayla said she was supposed
12:56to meet you yesterday morning
12:57to get Ryan.
12:59Today?
12:59Today I was going to meet him.
13:01She's always getting muddled up.
13:03Where were you yesterday,
13:04Jimmy?
13:05I mean,
13:05your boss told us
13:06you took the day off.
13:07I was driving up to Birmingham
13:08to meet this bloke,
13:10Dan Tyler.
13:11Dan runs this
13:12father's rights group.
13:14He was going to help me
13:15with my case
13:16to get custody of Ryan.
13:20It was all right at first.
13:23Kayla let me take him
13:24every time she wanted
13:24a night out.
13:27Every time there was
13:27a new bloke,
13:28she wanted Ryan out of the way.
13:31And what changed that?
13:32About six months ago,
13:34she stopped returning my calls.
13:35I went round her flat,
13:36but she wouldn't answer the door.
13:39After that,
13:40if I wanted to see Ryan,
13:42I had to meet her
13:42somewhere public.
13:43Like the merry-go-round.
13:46Because we weren't married
13:47and she never put
13:48on the birth certificate,
13:49I got no rights
13:50to my own kid.
13:52Can you believe that?
13:57Dad's alibi checks out.
14:00He's in the clear.
14:01Well, I've been on
14:02to the dog unit.
14:03The only scent
14:04that they picked up
14:05must have been Kayla Starks
14:06because they followed it
14:07right to the point
14:08where she gets into
14:08one of our cars.
14:10So why didn't they
14:10pick up Ryan's scent?
14:12Well, Kayla does claim
14:13that she washed the toy
14:14the night before
14:14Ryan went missing.
14:15If he'd been holding it
14:17all morning,
14:17the dogs had still
14:18picked up his scent.
14:20When my Sarah was a kid,
14:21she had this toy rabbit.
14:23Went everywhere with her.
14:25Ate with her,
14:26slept with her,
14:26she watched the telly
14:27with it.
14:28Even if she went on a bus
14:29or in the car
14:30or on a ride,
14:32who was sat in the seat
14:34next to her all the time,
14:35every time?
14:37That rabbit.
14:37So, er,
14:43why wasn't this
14:45dinosaur toy thing
14:46on the ride with Ryan?
14:48It fell off
14:50and I picked it up.
14:52Why didn't you
14:53give it back to him?
14:54No, I couldn't.
14:56The ride was going round.
14:58And Ryan didn't mind?
15:00No.
15:01You said he was
15:03very attached
15:04to the toy.
15:08A lot of kids
15:09would have screamed
15:10the place down
15:11had that happen to them.
15:12He was enjoying it,
15:15enjoying the ride.
15:16Thing is, Kayla,
15:17no-one remembers
15:20Ryan being on the ride
15:22or you putting him on it
15:24or you paying for it.
15:26We've looked at all
15:27the CCTV footage
15:28for the area.
15:29We can see you, Kayla,
15:31pushing the buggy
15:32but we don't see
15:33Ryan in the buggy.
15:35I don't understand,
15:36of course,
15:36he's in it.
15:37Have you, um,
15:39have you found his dad yet?
15:40Cos I've been thinking
15:42and I reckon,
15:43I reckon you might be right,
15:44I reckon that Jimmy
15:45could have taken him.
15:47And Jimmy's here
15:49at the station, Kayla.
15:51He doesn't have Ryan.
15:52He might be lying.
15:56I mean,
15:56he could have
15:57talked him up
15:57to his mums.
15:58She hates me.
16:01She'd do anything
16:02to get back at me.
16:03The only scent
16:04that the dogs found
16:05on the scene
16:06was yours.
16:08It's like mine
16:08was never there.
16:09That's because
16:10I washed Dino.
16:12Isn't it?
16:13But when the liaison officer
16:14took you back
16:15to your flat
16:15to get your things,
16:17she took a couple
16:18of pillowcases
16:19from Ryan's bed
16:20and the dogs
16:21didn't pick your scent
16:22up on the ride
16:23or anywhere else.
16:25Well, I washed them too.
16:27Before you took Ryan out.
16:29The night before.
16:30So where did Ryan sleep?
16:32Look,
16:32we should be out there
16:35looking for him.
16:38I mean,
16:40could you take me,
16:41Ronnie?
16:41I mean,
16:42maybe we go somewhere
16:43where I went before.
16:44Maybe I can remember
16:45something
16:46or find something
16:47that might help.
16:51You got all the data
16:52off her phone
16:53and downloaded
16:54all the photos.
16:55There's 60 of them.
16:57Well,
16:57she said it was full.
16:59No,
16:59the data card
17:00holds 500.
17:03Why would she lie
17:04about that?
17:06Um,
17:07any photographs
17:08of Ryan on there?
17:10Only the one
17:10she showed you.
17:12The other 59
17:12are of this broke.
17:15Who's that?
17:16She said she didn't
17:17have a boyfriend
17:18at the minute.
17:19Could be an ex.
17:20Yeah,
17:21but I mean,
17:22that is at Ryan's
17:23birthday party
17:24last week.
17:24Surely she'd have
17:25mentioned him.
17:26Well,
17:26we checked the internet
17:27access on the phone
17:28as well.
17:29She visited this website
17:30five times last week.
17:32It's a discussion thread
17:34for illegal adoption.
17:36Oh,
17:37you're joking.
17:38She messaged
17:38a couple of forum
17:39members too.
17:40Said she's got
17:41a two-year-old boy
17:43who she can't
17:44look after anymore.
17:45So maybe Ryan
17:46was coming between
17:47her and lover boy?
17:48Yeah.
17:48Well,
17:49if she didn't
17:50want him anymore,
17:50why didn't she
17:51just give him
17:51back to his dad?
17:52I mean,
17:53he wanted custody.
17:55Spiked,
17:56maybe.
17:58I mean,
17:59Jimmy's had trouble
17:59in the last six months
18:00getting to see Ryan,
18:02hasn't he?
18:03So she gives him
18:04away to a complete
18:05stranger.
18:06I'm sorry,
18:06doesn't make any sense.
18:08Well,
18:08you've never had
18:09the pleasure of
18:09walking down the aisle,
18:11Matt Dean,
18:11have you?
18:12So many people
18:13out there
18:13can't have kids
18:14of their own.
18:15Look,
18:15loads of kids
18:16get adopted legally.
18:17But it takes years,
18:18that,
18:18doesn't it?
18:19And not every kid,
18:20by the way,
18:21is a two-year-old
18:22cute blonde boy.
18:23So,
18:24some desperate couple
18:25skips the red tape
18:26and she gets
18:27her freedom back.
18:29She wanted to give him
18:29away.
18:30Maybe she made up
18:31this whole abduction
18:32story just to cover
18:33her tracks.
18:33But we've got to
18:34get her talking.
18:35Well,
18:36she wanted me to go
18:37out there and help
18:38her find Ryan,
18:39so...
18:39I'd be happy
18:40if you talked to her
18:41here.
18:41No,
18:41no,
18:41because if Ron
18:42goes out
18:43and retraces
18:43her steps,
18:44we get to see
18:45the whole journey
18:46in detail.
18:47And if there was
18:48a handover,
18:49maybe somebody
18:49saw something.
18:52Well,
18:52all right,
18:53but I want you
18:53on the wire.
18:54We've got to
18:55cover our asses.
19:01You and Jimmy
19:02don't get on,
19:03then.
19:04You don't like me?
19:05I've been
19:05both friends
19:06and cares
19:06because Ryan
19:07likes him
19:07too much.
19:10Well,
19:11maybe he's
19:11scared of
19:12losing Ryan
19:12for good.
19:14I mean,
19:15you get
19:16married,
19:18Ryan gets
19:19a new dad.
19:19I'm not getting
19:20married until
19:21I'm at least
19:2125.
19:24How come
19:24you don't have
19:25a boyfriend,
19:26then?
19:26Come on,
19:27pretty girl like
19:28you.
19:28They must be
19:28queuing up
19:29round the block.
19:30Yeah,
19:30because I really
19:31want to be
19:31lumbered with
19:32someone else's
19:32kid.
19:34Do you
19:35regret having
19:35Ryan so young?
19:37It used to be
19:38all I ever
19:38wanted.
19:40Be like them
19:41girls pushing
19:42prams around
19:42the estate
19:43all proud.
19:46I remember
19:46at school
19:47they did this
19:47talk about
19:49how hard it
19:49was to be
19:50a mum and
19:50we were all
19:51just like
19:52whatever.
19:54They even
19:55had one of
19:55them dolls,
19:56you know,
19:57that cries
19:57when it
19:58means changing.
19:59Yeah.
20:00Supposed to
20:01put you off
20:02having kids.
20:04But they
20:04didn't put
20:05you off?
20:06When it
20:08was my
20:08turn to
20:09take it
20:09home,
20:10it was
20:10proper
20:10screaming
20:11and
20:11that
20:11two
20:11o'clock
20:12in the
20:12morning
20:12and I
20:12just
20:13took
20:13batteries
20:13off.
20:15You can't do
20:16that with a real
20:17baby.
20:19Wish I'd had a
20:20dad like you.
20:22I'm not sure my
20:23daughters would
20:23agree.
20:24It would if they
20:25had my dad.
20:26My eldest daughter,
20:32Sarah, she's, um,
20:34she's sort of about
20:37your age.
20:39She's expecting a
20:40baby.
20:43You're going to be
20:44her granddad.
20:46Well, if she'll let
20:49me, she's not
20:52returning my course.
20:53Why not?
20:58Because the dad she
20:59remembers chose a bottle
21:01of whiskey over her and
21:02her sister.
21:08So, where next?
21:09You don't drink now,
21:17then?
21:18Not for 2,198 days.
21:23Your daughter not
21:24proud?
21:28It doesn't change
21:29the past, does it?
21:31And I'm not
21:33proud of that,
21:34so.
21:34Bet all she wants
21:39is a big ogre
21:40from her death.
21:53Talk to me, Kayla.
21:55Trust me.
22:00I've kind of told you
22:02about lying, Ronnie.
22:04I have got a
22:05boyfriend.
22:18We, we had a row
22:21before I come out.
22:25What about?
22:27Jimmy.
22:29He doesn't like
22:31Jimmy seeing Ryan.
22:32He doesn't like
22:35me seeing Jimmy.
22:40He got me to
22:41stop the visits.
22:43No.
22:45Sometimes I'd
22:46let Jimmy see Ryan
22:49in secret, but
22:50if he found out,
22:53he'd go mental.
22:54Does your boyfriend have a
22:59name?
23:01Rob.
23:04Does Rob have a
23:05temper?
23:07He doesn't like it
23:09when Ryan cries.
23:13If all kids cry,
23:15you can't stop it.
23:17Did he ever try and
23:18stop Ryan from crying?
23:19He couldn't think
23:24straight with all that
23:25noise.
23:28That's what he said.
23:29I left the house about
23:4010.30, come up the
23:41shops to buy fish
23:42fingers and chips for Ryan's
23:44tea.
23:45When I met Rob, I thought
23:46that he liked kids.
23:47He's got enough of them.
23:49How many kids has he got?
23:51Four.
23:52He doesn't see him
23:52or nothing.
23:54Must cost him a fortune
23:55in child support.
23:56No, it's all right.
23:57He's on benefits, so he
23:58doesn't pay out anything.
24:00And where does Rob live?
24:01We're just down there.
24:06Hang on a minute.
24:07So you live in
24:08Morden Rise with Rob,
24:10but I thought you lived
24:11in Tullington Hughes.
24:11I did, but Rob wanted
24:13us to move into his
24:14place.
24:15But your name's still
24:16on your old track.
24:17My mate lives there
24:18with a kid.
24:20So the pillowcase
24:21and the toothbrush
24:22thing won't even work.
24:24Sorry, I lied.
24:27Morden Rise.
24:28All units to Morden Rise.
24:44Sorry, Dave.
24:46I had to tell them
24:47what you've done.
24:48Search the bedrooms.
24:56Cuff him.
24:57What have you done with Ryan?
25:06What have you done with Ryan?
25:14Where is he?
25:15What have you done with Ryan?
25:27Kyla?
25:27Where is he?
25:28He's in heaven, Ronnie.
25:37He's in heaven, Ronnie.
25:51A baby boy is in heaven with
25:56the angels.
25:57He's in heaven with the angels.
25:57He's in heaven with the angels.
25:59He's in heaven with the angels.
26:00He's in heaven with the angels.
26:01He's in heaven with the angels.
26:01He's in heaven with the angels.
26:02He's in heaven with the angels.
26:03He's in heaven with the angels.
26:04He's in heaven with the angels.
26:05He's in heaven with the angels.
26:06He's in heaven with the angels.
26:10He's in heaven with the angels.
26:14He's in heaven with the angels.
26:15He's in heaven with the angels.
26:16He's in heaven with the angels.
26:17He's in heaven with the angels.
26:18He's in heaven with the angels.
26:19My client has prepared a statement which you would like to read out.
26:32I left my flat at 13 more than rise at 5.
26:38My mate Colin Woods picked me up in his car
26:41and we drove to Milton Keynes where he lives.
26:46We had a few drinks at his place and then went clubbing.
26:52We'd be drinking all night and didn't get back to London until the next day.
27:00Did you go into Ryan's room before you went out?
27:02No comment.
27:05You say you were drinking heavily that night. Do you remember coming home?
27:09No comment.
27:10Do you have any memory of what you did when you got home?
27:12No comment.
27:13Did you go into Ryan's bedroom when you got home?
27:15No comment.
27:17Did you kill Ryan Stark?
27:19I never went anywhere near her bloody...
27:21Shut up, Rob.
27:23My client has no further comments to make.
27:28So, what are we talking here?
27:30Sustained abuse or a single attack?
27:32Well, there's evidence of ongoing neglect and injuries dating back six months.
27:37And he never came to the attention of social services?
27:40This is the updated file.
27:42Ryan was subject to a child protection plan for the last five months of his life.
27:47It doesn't look like it did a very good job.
27:49Well, they were on the back foot.
27:50Social services weren't aware that Kayla and Ryan were living with Whiteley until after Ryan died.
27:56They were running a benefit scam, claiming on two flats at once.
28:00All the social services visits happened at Kayla's flat.
28:03So they had no idea Rob Whiteley was on the scene?
28:06Exactly.
28:07What was the cause of death?
28:08Suffocation.
28:09We can't be certain how he was suffocated, but he had three cracked ribs and there was bruising on his back.
28:16And we think during the attack that Whiteley pressed his full weight down onto Ryan.
28:20The pathologist then reckoned that had that happened on a sofa or a bed, for instance, Ryan could easily have suffocated.
28:27Were both of them abusing him?
28:29Well, Kayla knew what Whiteley was up to, that is for sure.
28:32But it was definitely Whiteley that was hurting the boy.
28:35He had a sovereign ring when we arrested him.
28:37We managed to match marks from Ryan's body to that ring.
28:41And initially, Kayla claimed that Whiteley was abusing Ryan.
28:44She changed her story?
28:46Not exactly.
28:46When we arrested them and they got briefed up, suddenly the only words that came out of their mouth was no comment.
28:51Although Whiteley did come up with some sort of an alibi, didn't he?
28:54Yeah.
28:55Does it check out?
28:56Well, we've got evidence of him being in a nightclub part of the night, but he easily had time enough to get back and kill Ryan.
29:04So is this child cruelty resulting in death or is it murder?
29:07No, no.
29:08It is murder.
29:09No doubt about it.
29:17Kayla and Rob Whiteley haven't made any attempt to explain how or why Ryan died.
29:24That's to be expected.
29:29Their legal advisers have made sure they don't say anything to incriminate themselves.
29:33I can't promise we can secure a murder conviction, but I will do my best to make sure they both go to prison.
29:41Because I've got journalists banging my door down day and night, one in my story.
29:53All of a sudden, everyone wants to hear what I've got to say.
30:03For the past six months, I've been begging someone to listen.
30:09And all I heard was I've got no right to see my own son on my dad.
30:17I should have kept him safe.
30:20You know, as well as I do, murder is notoriously hard to prove in child cruelty cases.
30:37The level of abuse speaks for itself.
30:39Any jury that sees those photographs want to bring back hanging.
30:42A life sentence is a soft option.
30:43You think the home secretary really wants a big, expensive trial?
30:47What's the alternative?
30:51I'm not dropping the murder charge to save the Ministry of Justice a few quid.
30:55Henry, just make sure those two don't get bailed.
30:59Kayla was removed from her family at the age of five following chronic sexual abuse and physical violence at the hands of her alcoholic father.
31:15Spare me the sob story.
31:18I have a report here from a clinical psychologist specializing in women who collude with a partner's abuse.
31:24It states that my client had developed a narcissistic attitude towards her son, viewing him as an extension of herself.
31:32So, what are you saying? It wasn't her fault her son died.
31:37No, what I'm saying is that her norms are radically different to yours or mine.
31:42All she's worthy of is cruelty and contempt, so that's how she treats a child.
31:46And I can cite you women like Shy Keenan, who endured the most horrific abuse imaginable,
31:51but came out the other side, a hero, not an abuser.
31:55It's a choice.
31:57Not if it affects her fitness to plead.
31:59History of abuse has no bearing on fitness to plead.
32:03She's as sane as any one of us, and you know it.
32:05Sane, maybe, but she also has severe learning difficulties and the IQ of a ten-year-old child.
32:11Well, ten is the age of criminal responsibility, so we're good to go.
32:21You really don't remember me, do you?
32:24I'm sorry. Should I?
32:28Phone number on the bedside table would have been nice.
32:30Defence are going to argue if Kayla Stark hadn't been a victim of abuse herself,
32:47none of this would have happened.
32:48An abusive childhood might be convenient mitigation,
32:51but it isn't an excuse for murder.
32:54She deserves to go to prison.
32:55Any juror with half a brain cell will see they deserve jail time,
32:59but what they did to that child needs explaining.
33:01These are the wrong defendants to get all touchy-feely over.
33:05They end up in psych units.
33:06I am secretary of hangers all out to dry.
33:09I think we need to cover ourselves and order our own psych evaluations.
33:13Not because her briefs find a psychiatrist who claims Kayla Stark has a low IQ.
33:17Because we need to be one step ahead of defence.
33:21And don't you want to know why they killed Ryan?
33:23If we don't ask why, who will?
33:25Substitute psychology for morality and our jobs become obsolete.
33:29Deny they had a choice, you deny a responsibility.
33:32So you really don't care why?
33:34Not in this case, no.
33:35All I care about is convicting one of them for the murder of a child.
33:39Well, if we push for a murder trial, we could lose.
33:42There isn't enough evidence to prove which one of them killed Ryan.
33:45Alicia's right.
33:47But we can't prove which one of them killed the boy.
33:49There's sufficient reasonable doubt to see them both walk.
33:52We could consider a man's law's charge.
33:55Try and get them to plead guilty.
33:57We may not get them to plead at all.
34:01Whiteley and Stark's briefs have joined forces.
34:04They've applied for a fitness to plead hearing.
34:07Sorry, Mr. Browning, I have no doubt Robert Whiteley is fit to plead.
34:17I have some concerns, however, regarding Kayla Stark's IQ and her learning difficulties.
34:24Has she the mental ability to follow the proceedings?
34:28We try ten-year-old children in this call for murder without any regard to their ability to follow proceedings.
34:34I'm not interested in debating the age of criminal responsibility, Mr. Thorne.
34:38I'm only concerned with Kayla Stark's ability to understand what she's pleading to.
34:42The psychiatric evaluation suggests that she doesn't, my lord.
34:45So, on the say-so of two psychiatrists who've seen her for all of five minutes,
34:49we go from murder to nothing in less than an hour.
34:52But if she's not fit to plead, she's not fit to plead.
34:54It's not rocket science.
34:56Which is fortunate as none of us are rocket scientists.
34:58There is also my defendant's family history to take into consideration.
35:06Which you can introduce in trial, but bears no relevance to this hearing.
35:10Indeed, Mr. Thorne.
35:14Now, according to the psychiatric report, she's not suffering from any form of mental illness.
35:19So, the only issue is her IQ and her learning difficulties.
35:23Kayla Stark was perfectly capable of concocting a story that her child had been abducted.
35:29Low IQ or not, she's quite capable of standing trial.
35:33Sorry, Miss Dyer, I'm with the crown on this.
35:40Anyone capable of weaving such an elaborate web of lies is capable of entering a plea.
35:47The charges stand.
35:49Trial will commence on Monday.
36:00What do you reckon?
36:01Ten minutes before one of them caves?
36:03Fifteen, if they've got any self-respect.
36:06Yvette or Gregor?
36:07Yvette, definitely.
36:09I reckon Gregor secretly wants the glory of a high-profile trial.
36:11Yvette actually cares about her clients.
36:13Jake!
36:16And she fancies you.
36:20We'll be guilty to causing you allowing the death of a child.
36:23That's great news.
36:24It'll help us secure the murder conviction.
36:26Yes, you drop the murder charge.
36:28Even if she pleads to the lower charge,
36:31she can still get an IPP and end up in prison for life.
36:34So we all rest easy?
36:35Except for Ryan's dad.
36:38Oh, come on, Jake.
36:40Accept the plea and we'll give you Whiteley gift-wrapped.
36:43Kayla will turn QE.
36:44She'll give you every last detail you need to crucify Whiteley
36:48and put him away for murder.
36:55Sorry.
36:59Ronnie?
37:01I've heard you've accepted a plea from Kayla Stark.
37:04She pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child.
37:08She was sentenced this morning.
37:09Five-year tariff.
37:11We charged her with murder on Joint Enterprise.
37:13We got no evidence to prove which one of them killed Ryan.
37:17We put them both in that dot.
37:19Their briefs will cry in reasonable doubt and they can both walk.
37:21No, I know why you did it, Jake,
37:23but it's just going to be a matter of time
37:24before Whiteley's brief comes knocking at your door for the same deal.
37:27You know that, don't you?
37:29If you accept Whiteley's plea,
37:32they could both be out in five years.
37:33Now, please,
37:35please tell me that you think more of that little boy's life than that.
37:38You've been a copper long enough to know how the law works, Ronnie.
37:41I've been a copper long enough to hope
37:43that if I charge someone with murder,
37:45they will be tried for murder.
37:50Ronnie.
37:53You have my word.
37:54With Kayla's evidence,
37:55I can try Whiteley with murder
37:57and send him to prison for life.
37:59Yes.
38:08Did my client Robert Whiteley ever confess to killing Ryan Stark?
38:22No.
38:23So all you have is his ex-girlfriend Kayla Stark's claim that he did?
38:28Well, she was very clear about who killed her son.
38:32These claims Kayla made were offered up during a little walk you took together?
38:36Well, yes, they were, but we went out together to retrace her steps.
38:41Oh.
38:42I thought you took her out to ask her personal probing questions about her love life.
38:47I was trying to find out if Ryan was at risk from someone else.
38:51And did you tell her she was pretty?
38:53My lonely friend is deviating into fantasy land, my lord.
38:57His insinuation, DS Brooks,
38:59an officer with an impeccable service record,
39:02had some ulterior motive.
39:04is beyond ridiculous.
39:06Withdrawal, my lord.
39:08Let me ask you one more time, DS Brooks,
39:11so we are completely clear.
39:13During the course of the police interviews,
39:15did Robert Whiteley at any time
39:18say he was responsible for Ryan's death?
39:21No.
39:31No further questions, my lord.
39:33Re-examination, my lord.
39:37Am I right in assuming that,
39:40other than a brief statement setting out his alibi,
39:42the defendant said nothing more than no comment
39:45while he was in police custody?
39:47Apart from one abusive remark, yes.
39:50And am I also right in assuming
39:51that when you went out with Kayla Stark
39:53on this search for Ryan,
39:55you were under the assumption
39:56that Ryan had been illegally adopted?
39:59Evidence suggested that Kayla had given Ryan away,
40:02so we thought by retracing the steps
40:04we could find some new witnesses.
40:06So the only reason you took this unorthodox approach
40:09was because you believed that there was
40:11a slim chance of finding Ryan alive
40:14and you might rescue him.
40:17Well, we had hoped that that was the case, yes.
40:20Thank you, Detective Sergeant.
40:22You've been most helpful.
40:26Did Whiteley attack Ryan the night he died?
40:29I was in bed and Ryan was crying.
40:39Rob went into Ryan's room.
40:44I heard him shouting, heard Ryan, he was crying,
40:48and then he stopped.
40:52When I went to get Ryan up in the morning,
40:55I knew he was dead.
40:59I was scared.
41:02Jimmy was supposed to see him the next day.
41:04I panicked.
41:05And pretended Ryan had been abducted?
41:09Yeah.
41:10So there is no doubt in your mind
41:13your son was alive when Robert Whiteley
41:16entered his room that night
41:17and dead when he left it?
41:21No doubt at all.
41:23You pleaded guilty to causing or allowing Ryan's death.
41:32Did anyone else allow Ryan's death?
41:38Did anyone else know about Ryan's injuries?
41:42Your social worker, Bernie Bradley, she knew.
41:44Is my lone friend simply hurling mud
41:49left, right, and center and seeing where it lands,
41:52or does this bear any relevance
41:53to the question of his client's guilt?
41:56Make your point, Mr. Browning.
41:58There were 23 separate visits or meetings
42:01with social workers who came into your home
42:04and asked you questions about Ryan's injuries.
42:08Yeah.
42:09So how was it possible
42:10that Ryan continued to suffer abuse?
42:16I covered it up.
42:18To protect your boyfriend?
42:20No, to protect Ryan.
42:24I grew up in care.
42:25I know what them places are like.
42:27I was afraid they'd take him away from me.
42:30And these social workers,
42:32they believed your lies?
42:34I don't know.
42:35They wanted to get out of my house
42:38as quick as they could.
42:39That Bernie Bradley woman said my flat smelled.
42:42She didn't want to conduct further visits
42:44to a child with inexplicable,
42:46repeated, serious injuries
42:48because your flat smelled?
42:51That's right.
42:52And did she come on a visit
42:53the week before Ryan died?
42:55And how long did Bernie Bradley stay?
42:58She didn't.
42:59She was on the doorstep a minute.
43:01Did she see Ryan?
43:03He was asleep.
43:04So, a week before Ryan's death,
43:08this senior social worker
43:09responsible for Ryan's welfare
43:12conducted this final visit
43:15and then walked away
43:17without even seeing him?
43:23Yeah.
43:25No further questions, my lord.
43:27Gregor did a good job
43:36making Ryan's social worker sound culpable.
43:39Yeah, maybe she had a role in Ryan's death,
43:42but you can't lay the blame
43:43on a bureaucratic system.
43:45Even if they failed to protect a child?
43:48Social services have already sacked
43:49Bernice Bradley to save their own skins.
43:52Gregor's turning this into a witch hunt.
43:54Well, if he causes enough confusion,
43:55the jury won't know who to blame.
44:01Aren't you the one responsible
44:03for Ryan Stark's death?
44:05I mean, you're the social worker
44:06who saw him 23 times
44:08and between your visits,
44:10he was battered senseless.
44:12Kayla Stark hid what was going on.
44:14She lied about where she was living.
44:16Wasn't it your job
44:17to dig a little deeper?
44:19A week before he died,
44:21I sent Ryan's case for review
44:22so care proceedings could be considered.
44:25Well, it's not in the file.
44:26There was an administrative error
44:27in the department.
44:29My written request
44:30was misfiled by a temp.
44:32Are you telling this court
44:33that the life of an abused two-year-old
44:36was in the hands of a temp?
44:37Our department was already short-staffed
44:39before we had our funding cut.
44:41Well, you were there, were you not?
44:42You didn't notice Ryan's case
44:44hadn't come up for review?
44:46I thought about that little boy
44:47all the time.
44:48And yet you didn't help him.
44:50I went there the night he died.
44:52There's no record of any visit that night.
44:54It was out of hours.
44:56I turned up at the address
44:57that was on the file
44:58and she wasn't there.
45:00Her old neighbor told me
45:01where she was now living.
45:02I went round there
45:03and I told her
45:04I was issuing care proceedings.
45:08Are you 100% certain
45:10this impromptu doorstep visit
45:12took place the night Ryan died
45:14and not the week before?
45:16100%.
45:16It was my birthday
45:18and I spent the night
45:19writing reports
45:19stating that she was living at Whiteley's.
45:22I posted it through the office door
45:23at 5 in the morning
45:24before I got my flight to Spain.
45:26And it never found its way
45:27into the file?
45:28It was added to the request
45:29to issue care proceedings.
45:31Which got misfiled?
45:33By the time it was found
45:35I'd been summarily dismissed.
45:38I did everything in my power
45:40to protect that little boy.
45:42You have to believe me.
45:48Thanks a lot, Bernie.
45:49Kayla lied about the last visit.
45:55She said in court
45:56that Bernie came round
45:58the week before Ryan died.
46:00Which she did.
46:01The last official visit
46:02which took place
46:03at Kayla's old flat
46:04was the week before Ryan's death.
46:05But the doorstep visit
46:06was at Whiteley's flat
46:08and happened
46:08the night Ryan died.
46:11I need to remember
46:12if your social worker
46:13came round the night
46:14your kid died.
46:15So,
46:16what else has she been lying about?
46:22Ronnie,
46:23it's Jacob Thorne.
46:25What exactly did you say
46:27to Kayla Stark
46:28to get her to open up to you?
46:33The night Bernie Bradley
46:35came round
46:35and you spoke to her
46:36on your doorstep
46:37was Rob there?
46:39He was out clubbing.
46:41We'd had a row
46:42he didn't come back
46:43till the next day.
46:43So the visit
46:45took place
46:45at Rob Whiteley's flat?
46:47Not your old flat?
46:49Like all the other
46:50social services visits?
46:52Yeah.
46:54Well,
46:54she'd found out
46:55I was living there,
46:56hadn't she?
46:57Some busybody
46:58mouthing off.
46:59What time did he go out
47:00and what time
47:01did he return?
47:02He went out
47:03about eight.
47:05Got back the next morning
47:06about ten
47:07just before I went out.
47:09Where did you go?
47:09Where did you go?
47:14I don't remember.
47:15You went to the corner shop,
47:17didn't you?
47:17You bought Fish Fingers.
47:20You went to the park.
47:21Then you went to the merry-go-round
47:22in Bermondsey.
47:23No, I didn't.
47:24Not that day.
47:25Then you raised the alarm
47:26that your son was missing,
47:28claiming that he'd been snatched
47:30from the merry-go-round.
47:32Isn't that the case?
47:32You've got it wrong.
47:41Bernice Bradley
47:42has told this court
47:43she went round
47:44to Whiteley's flat
47:45and told you
47:45she was issuing
47:46care proceedings
47:47on the night
47:48Ryan died.
47:50She remembers
47:50quite distinctly
47:51because it was
47:52her birthday.
47:54You told the court
47:55the robber's out
47:56the night
47:56Bernie made her visit,
47:58which tallies
47:59with his alibi
48:00that he was clubbing
48:01in Milton Keynes.
48:03According to
48:04the pathology report,
48:06Ryan died between
48:0710pm and 6am.
48:10If Robert Whiteley
48:11wasn't at home
48:12during these hours,
48:13how did Ryan die?
48:17He went into his room
48:18before he went out.
48:19I wasn't lying.
48:20No, you weren't lying, Kayla,
48:22but you weren't telling us
48:23the whole truth either,
48:25were you?
48:26You told this court
48:28you went into Ryan's room
48:29at 8 the next morning
48:31to get him up,
48:32but you went in
48:33before that,
48:35didn't you?
48:49He was in so much pain.
48:54You suffered extensive abuse
48:57at the hands
48:58at the hands
48:58of your own father,
48:59didn't you, Kayla?
49:04It must have been
49:05heartbreaking
49:05seeing Ryan suffer
49:08like you did.
49:14I had to make it stop.
49:17Of course you did.
49:19That's what mums do,
49:20isn't it?
49:21Try and take away
49:21their child's suffering.
49:24What did you do?
49:32Talk to me, Kayla.
49:36Trust me.
49:37They were going to take him
49:45into camp.
49:46I got a pillow.
49:59And I put it on his face.
50:08Please stop moving.
50:13Please stop moving.
50:23I just wanted him
50:25to be safe.
50:27I'm sorry.
50:36I'm sorry.
50:38Jimmy, Jimmy.
50:41I'm so sorry.
50:43Kayla's pleading guilty
51:03to the murder charge.
51:05She knows she'll go to prison.
51:08She incriminated herself
51:10in open court.
51:11She's hardly got options.
51:13Henry, we're thrilled
51:15that you've saved the MOJ
51:17at the cost of another child.
51:19And their consentence
51:20are along with Whiteley.
51:21So, two for the price of one.
51:24And you don't have to
51:25spar with me
51:26across the courtroom
51:27for the next few weeks.
51:30Result?
51:32Blue tulip.
51:35Left shoulder blade.
51:39Some things I don't forget.
51:43Kayla Stark, you have pleaded guilty
52:04to murder.
52:05I have no other option
52:09than to sentence you
52:11to life in prison
52:12with a minimum term
52:14of twenty years.
52:16Robert Whiteley.
52:18Robert Whiteley.
52:20You have been found guilty
52:22of causing or allowing
52:23the death of a child.
52:26It is my belief
52:27you played a major role
52:28in the death of that child.
52:30And had he not been moved
52:31into your home,
52:32he would still be alive now.
52:34I therefore sentence you
52:36to a term of imprisonment
52:38for public protection
52:39with a minimum term
52:40of eight years.
52:43Take them down.
53:06Jake!
53:18We did the right thing.
53:23Yeah, we did.
53:30Do you fancy a pint?
53:31I can't tonight, sir.
53:35Actually, I've got plans, son.
53:38Seeing my daughter.
53:42Another time.
53:43I can't do it.
53:43I can't do it.
53:44I can't do it.
53:44I can't do it.
53:45I can't do it.
53:46I can't do it.
53:46I can't do it.
53:47I can't do it.
53:47I can't do it.
53:48I can't do it.
53:48I can't do it.
53:49I can't do it.
53:49I can't do it.
53:50I can't do it.
53:50I can't do it.
53:51I can't do it.
53:51I can't do it.
53:52I can't do it.
53:52I can't do it.
53:53I can't do it.
53:53I can't do it.
53:54I can't do it.
53:54I can't do it.
53:55I can't do it.
53:55I can't do it.
53:56I can't do it.
53:57I can't do it.