Opal's Story

Opals File

NAME: Opal Summers

AGE: 12

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Opal, when asked said she loves to write stories and draw illustrations

BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS: Opal is rebellious stroppy and rather nasty at times, but this is only because of her home life, she has anxiety and has been treated for Depression

SIBLINGS: Opal has one sister, Danielle, who is five years younger than Opal, she loves her very much and is fiercely protective of her

PAST LOCATIONS: Opal and her family never stayed in one place, they were always on the move, staying at a house for usually a month at a time, Opal commented that she didn't like this as just when she got settled they would pack her up and move her somewhere else

FEARS: Opal is extremely claustrophobic and doesn't like sleeping under the duvet she also hates the dark and doesn't like people touching her unless she trusts them

REASON FOR BEING IN CARE: Opals father died when she was 6 years old, since then she lived with her mother, Katherine, and stepfather, Steve, her stepfather was extremely abusive and her mother started to be too, they both had a taste for it and would abuse Opal as often as twelve times per day, a horrific lifestyle for such a young girl

She was actually taken into Burneywood while her parents were questioned, for two months

She ran away from home and stayed in a shelter, again for two months, until her mother found her and brought her back home where she was severely beaten to the point she had to go to hospital, her mother said Opal had fallen down the stairs (see P7 Hospital Records) and Opal went along with it

Her ordeal finally came to an end when a heated family argument which resulted in violence towards not only Opal but Danielle also, was overheard by a neighbour who called the police

Opal lashed out at her stepfather for hurting her little sister and she witnessed his arrest, her mother is still being questioned.

Robert Lowe - Opals Social Worker