Mother of boy, 12, who lost a finger 'fleeing bullies' blasts police

Mother of schoolboy, 12, who lost a finger which got caught in a fence as he was ‘running away from racist bullies’ pledges to take legal action after police dropped investigation – saying no-one else was involved

• Raheem Bailey was 11 when he lost his finger after allegedly running from bullies
• It happened at Abertillery Learning Community in Gwent, South Wales, in May

The mother of a schoolboy who ‘lost a finger running away from racist bullies’ is considering legal action after police abandoned their investigation.

Raheem Bailey was 11 when he was allegedly attacked by a group of children at his school in Wales in May, last year.  

The youngster – now aged 12 – broke his finger scrambling over a fence after trying to escape his alleged tormentors. Despite a six-hour operation in hospital, doctors were unable to save the finger and amputated it.

Raheem’s mother, Shantai Bailey, claims her son had faced ‘racial and physical abuse’ after starting at 1,600-pupil Abertillery Learning Community in Gwent, South Wales.

But following a nine-month investigation, Gwent Police said they would be taking no further action after concluding Raheem left the school ‘on his own accord’ and insisting no-one else was involved.   

Raheem’s mother Shantal Bailey (centre) said her son – aged 11 at the time – called her ‘screaming in pain’ before being taken to hospital

However, following a nine-month investigation, Gwent Police has said it is taking no further action. Raheem is pictured in hospital after breaking his finger  

However, the findings have outraged Ms Bailey, who claims her legal team is preparing to make an official complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct – as well as a separate civil claim against the school. 

Ms Bailey said: ‘I am overwhelmingly disappointed by the police’s decision to take no further action in Raheem’s case.

READ MORE: School closes on ‘health and safety grounds’ after boy, 11, lost his finger when he got caught in fence ‘fleeing bullies’

‘Although the police had indicated to me that this was the likely outcome, I feel that their statement makes it clear that they have taken at face value all other versions of events other than Raheem’s.

‘He is the victim in this and has been left with a life-changing injury. My son is still traumatised by what happened to him and has a permanent physical reminder of the torment he suffered that day. 

‘The events of that day followed a sustained campaign of bullying at the school over the preceding months and a previous experience that had taught him that reporting to a teacher would not make a difference.’

Ms Bailey insisted her son’s injury had followed a ‘sustained campaign’ of bullying at the secondary school, which Raheem started in September 2021. 

The mother-of-four claimed ‘previous experience’ had taught her son reporting the alleged abuse to a teacher would ‘not make a difference’.   

Branding Gwent Police’s claims no other children were involved in her son’s injuries an ‘insult’. Ms Bailey added: ‘It has never been in question that Raheem chose to leave the school, however, he did this in a state of sheer panic and despair, which left him feeling as if he had no option other than to leave the school grounds by any means necessary.

Boxer Anthony Joshua and footballer Jadon Sancho are among those who have sent messages of support to Raheem. Pictured, Raheem’s hand after the six-hour surgery

Raheem is pictured recovering following the operation to remove his finger in May 2022 

Gwent Police say the investigation has revealed that nobody else was involved in causing the youngster’s injury  

‘It is the altercation that caused him to flee the school in terror, and how he was allowed to do so unchecked and unchallenged by any responsible adult, that need to be addressed.’

Responding, Gwent Police said it was alerted about the Raheem’s injuries on May 17, with a spokesman insisting the report was taken ‘extremely seriously’.  

‘Officers have interviewed several people under caution and viewed CCTV footage from the school,’ the official said.

‘Our investigation found that Raheem left the school premises of his own accord and no other persons were involved in him sustaining the injury to his hand. 

‘After undertaking a detailed and thorough investigation we will not be taking any further action. We’ve met with Raheem’s family and informed them of the outcome of the investigation.’

The statement added: ‘We have worked closely with the school leadership team and the local authority and have appreciated their co-operation though this complex investigation. We all remain committed to keeping children safe.’  

Blaenau Gwent Council says it will carry out an independent inquiry into the incident.

Ms Bailey added: ‘While I welcome the announcement from Blaenau Gwent Council that they will be conducting an independent inquiry I am disgusted that they didn’t take the time to inform me directly and instead I have heard it from the press.’

A fundraising campaign following the amputation raised £107,000 in donations for Raheem’s treatment – and Ms Bailey is now looking into having a prosthetic fitted for her son.

Following the incident, Raheem was inundated with support from celebrities, with the likes of boxer Anthony Joshua, footballer Jadon Sancho, football manager Chris Hughton, pundit Gary Neville and Olympic BMX biker Kye Whyte among those writing to him.  

Frances Swaine, solicitor from Leigh Day, which is representing the family, said: ‘We echo our client’s disappointment, not only with the conclusion arrived at by the police but by the way they have chosen to communicate this, which seems to lay any blame with Raheem and exonerate all others. 

‘The altercation that led to him leaving school should be re-examined. Raheem had been reporting the bullying he had suffered for months but he felt that nothing was done by the school to help him. 

A statement from Blaenau Gwent Council, where Abertillery Learning Community (pictured) is based, said ‘everything had been done’ to support all the pupils involved 

Raheem had six hours of surgery on his injured hand when he allegedly tried to flee bullies — and got his finger caught in a fence 

‘We will be supporting Shantal in making a complaint to the IOPC regarding the police’s handling of this incident and we are also investigating a civil legal claim against Abertillery Learning Community for negligence. 

‘While the council’s promise of an independent inquiry is welcome, it is appalling that this was announced to the press before the family themselves were consulted. It is crucial that any inquiry allows Shantal and Raheem to be fully involved.’

A statement from Blaenau Gwent Council, where Abertillery Learning Community is based, said: ‘First and foremost a young person has suffered a life-changing injury and our thoughts remain with the learner and his family.

‘The learning community did everything to support all learners affected, including doing everything possible to care for the injured learner at the time of the accident.

‘The school and the council have fully supported the investigation from the outset and have co-operated as required with all aspects of evidence gathering. 

‘The well-being and safety of pupils and staff at the learning community, as in all Blaenau Gwent Schools, remains of paramount importance.’

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