Father of abused 4-year-old seeks help to get child to UK

The father of a four-year-old boy that was recently allegedly physically abused on Virgin Gorda is seeking the help of the Virgin Islands community to assist him with travelling and medical expenses that would enable him to whisk his son away to the United Kingdom to live with him.

Leon Jefferson, via a GoFundMe fundraiser created 2 days ago, is hoping to secure £10,000.

"I'm in a situation where child services are threatening to take my son from his mother in the British Virgin Islands for child neglect. My son has suffered a broken bone by his stepfather, who the mother entrusted to take care of him while she was working. The child had a surgery to get his bone repaired and now has steel plates in his leg," the public appeal for help stated on the Go Fund Me page.

Mother likely to face criminal charges

According to Jefferson, the mother of his child will also likely be criminally charged, along with the stepfather, for the offence.

"There won't be anyone left to take care of my son, so I'm in an urgent need to go and travel for him and bring him back to the UK to live with me. Where I can look after him and make sure no harm comes his way again."

Jefferson said his young son would also need physiotherapy to walk again as well as medical care.

"I am raising money to help with the cost of my plane ticket and a plane ticket for my son as well, also help with a hotel and quarantine fee. Please, I will be very grateful if you can help donate."

According to a news story on JTV News, the child abuse matter allegedly occurred on May 3, 2021 on the sister island of Virgin Gorda.

"Initial investigations revealed that the prime suspect is the stepfather of the child who allegedly has a record of physically abusing that child. In this instance, the boy child was allegedly badly beaten by the man for allegedly messing up a room in the home while playing."

The JTV reported further said the alleged incident occurred while the mother was out and that when she returned home she found the child with a broken leg in bed. Her husband allegedly admitted to her that he beat the child.

The child was taken to Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda and then to Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola, JTV News reported.