ABOUT CONNOR SPARROWHAWK AND JUSTICE FOR LB
This book is dedicated to the memory of Connor Sparrowhawk. Connor was a fit and healthy young man who loved buses, London, the Eddie Stobart haulage company and speaking his mind. He lived in Oxford, England, and was in the sixth form of a local special school. He was diagnosed with autism, learning disabilities and epilepsy.
Connor’s mum, Sara, created a blog online in which he was affectionately known as Laughing Boy (LB). It was through this blog and her wonderful writing that I, and countless others, felt as if we got to know LB in some small way. LB’s mood changed as he approached adulthood and on 19 March 2013 he was admitted to hospital, the STATT (Short Term Assessment and Treatment Team) inpatient unit run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.
LB drowned in the bath in the inpatient unit on 4 July 2013. An entirely preventable death. Since Connor’s death, his family and a small team of incredibly dedicated supporters have campaigned endlessly under the Justice for LB banner, not only to ensure a full investigation took place into his death, but to further improve the life opportunities of all people with learning disabilities.
In October 2015 the jury at Connor’s inquest concluded that neglect and very serious failings contributed to his death. Finally, in June 2016, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust accepted responsibility for the death of Connor Sparrowhawk.
The Justice for LB campaign continues to push for further assurances that what happened to Connor will not happen to others. They also want to see proper informed debate about the status of learning disabled adults as full citizens in the UK, involving and led by learning disabled people and their families.