A comprehensive review has disclosed the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of 10-month-old Finley Boden on Christmas Day 2020, after he was subjected to abuse by his parents, Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Despite being identified as needing significant protection, Finley was returned to his parents’ care weeks before he sustained 130 injuries and ultimately died due to their abusive actions.

The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership conducted the review, which criticized the safeguarding practices in place at the time, labeling them as “inadequate” and responsible for failing to prevent Finley’s death. Concerns had previously been raised about the parents’ drug use and the poor conditions of their home, yet a family court decided to reunite Finley with Marsden and Boden. This decision occurred despite warnings from social services, highlighting systemic failings in assessing the risk to Finley and other vulnerabilities in safeguarding measures.

The review has prompted 11 recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies, including the improvement of multi-agency audits, parenting assessments, and distinguishing between informal family arrangements and formal placements. The Derbyshire County Council’s children’s services have acknowledged these “missed opportunities” and issued an apology, committing to immediate action to review and strengthen their systems.

Marsden and Boden were both sentenced to life imprisonment, serving minimum terms of 27 and 29 years respectively, for the murder of their son. Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples described them as “persuasive and accomplished liars” who evaded the scrutiny of safeguarding professionals.

This case has led to a reevaluation of safeguarding protocols in Derbyshire, with authorities vowing to implement the review’s recommendations and to enhance protective measures for vulnerable children to avoid future incidents of such devastating abuse.