THE mother of 11-year-old Raheem Bailey has strongly criticised the handling of complaints over his loss of his finger while allegedly fleeing bullies at a school in Wales.

Shantal Bailey’s son reportedly injured his finger, which was later amputated, as he climbed the school fence at Abertillery Learning Community to escape the bullies.

Ms Bailey said she was “disgusted” that Blaenau Gwent Council had announced an independent inquiry into the incident without contacting the family first.

“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,” she said.

The council confirmed that it had not contacted the Bailey family about the inquiry and that it had had little contact with them since the incident.

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

“My son is still traumatised by what happened to him and has a permanent physical reminder of the torment he suffered that day.

“To state that no others were involved in what happened to Raheem is a complete insult and the police’s point about him leaving the school of his own accord is irrelevant.”

Frances Swaine of law firm Leigh Day said: “The altercation that led to him leaving school should be re-examined.

“We will be supporting Shantal in making a complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we are also investigating a civil legal claim against Abertillery Learning Community for negligence.”

Gwent Police said that officers had undertaken a detailed and thorough inquiry and would take no further action.

The force 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.”