Under-fire social services being probed over Star Hobson's murder pay out five-figure settlement over botched adoption that left

Under-fire social services being probed over Star Hobson's murder pay out five-figure settlement over botched adoption that left boy with a 'family waiting for him' in long-term foster care

Caring parents Sonny and Sarita Simak spent three years fighting for the boy

They were told he could go back to them but then Bradford Council made U-turn

The Simaks took legal action and the council settled with them a five-figure sum

The council that missed numerous chances to stop tiny Star Hobson being murdered by her evil 'stepmother' have been ordered to make a 'very significant' payout to a couple they wrongly deprived of their child.

Caring parents Sonny and Sarita Simak spent three years fighting to be reunited with a boy they planned to adopt after he was taken away by Bradford Council.

The couple had been approved by independent authorities and two adoption panels, but the council decided he was not suitable for them.

They took legal action against the authority and just before the case was due to start it settled with them.

Bradford's children's services are currently under investigation by the Department for Education over woeful missed chances to save innocent Star Hobson.

She was murdered by the female partner of her mother, despite a series of tip-offs and visits by social workers that missed signs all her family could see that she was being abused.

The Simaks had their young boy placed with them when he was a toddler back in their home in Slough in November 2017.

Mrs Simak told the BBC: 'He was just a joy, a delight, a lovely little boy. We love him.

'He thrived in adoption placement with us.

'He loved having a mummy and daddy. He was doing very well.

'We worry about him. We don't want him to spend the rest of his life in foster care, that's why we fought for him.

'We were a family and they broke us, they broke our family twice. And they did it just so casually.'

In July 2018, with just 12 hours notice, the boy - whose name is being kept anonymous - was removed from their home.

The Simaks were told by social workers they did not think the placement would work.

They told them it was because they 'suffered from low moods and hadn't taken advice about feeding the boy'.

But the couple fought for him and their health visitor and doctor said he had done well with them.

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