A HIGH court compensation fight for children restrained in custody has been welcomed by a Burnley mother whose son was the youngest to die in a British penal institution.

Lawyers representing the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) cited the case of 14-year-old Adam Rickwood in their fight to inform youngsters that their rights may have been infringed over ‘unlawful’ restraint techniques used in state-run secure centres.

Earlier this year an inquest jury ruled that Hassockfield training centre, in County Durham, had acted unlawfully before Adam took his own life seven years ago.

He had been subdued using a controversial ‘nose distraction’ technique, involving a sharp blow being administered to the face, while he was being ‘restrained’ by four adult care officers.

Mr Justice Collins gave the charity the go-ahead to mount a compensation fight against the Ministry of Justice, after it had refused to issue infringement notices to the parents of youngsters in similar positions to Adam’s.

Adam’s mother Carol Pounder, of Greenock Close, Burnley, said a lot of detained children and their families remained unaware of their rights. She added: “I am not saying that this will stop all deaths in custody but at least it will help to reduce the risk.

“Adam was 5ft 1ns and weighed less than eight stone. The weight of those care officers was nearer to 80 stone and yet they were needed to restrain a child so tiny.”

A High Court judge is likely to make a ruling on the compensation issue, following a judicial review.

Richard Hermer QC, for CRAE, said: “It is likely that this unlawful regime operated for many years, at least from 1998 to 2008, and perhaps until 2010. Hundreds of children are likely to have been restrained under this system.”

MoJ lawyers argued there was no legal obligation to issue infringement notices and said children at centres were given advice.

The ministry is said to be ‘considering its response’ to the decision.