Advice on getting bio parent of older teen to back off - legal steps?

[JustALittleHelpPlease]

Hi, I'd really appreciate a bit of help on this one, it's difficult because dd is not quite but nearly an adult

DD is 17. Her father has been arrested many times over the years for various horrible things involving children. "Just" 1 caution but currently under 2 investigations, 1 for historical hands on abuse.

Dd has decided she wants nothing to do with him however she doesn't want a big show down, she just wants to get on with her life quietly and without bother. She has changed her name away from his to try and stop people making the association.

He stuck to this for about a year with me giving occasional updates about important things like school results and generally playing nice and being the buffer for her. Eventually he decided he'd waited long enough and started tagging her on Facebook. I politely asked him to stop after finding her sobbing yet again. He did it again so I sent a very strongly worded message saying, basically, back off (possibly a couple of swears in there) He did, removed the latest post and stopped paying maintenance

Then social services rang to check that dd was not in contact, reiterated that police investigation is still under way and that they still consider him too high risk for contact even considering dds age.

So, today, dd is at work and his sister turned up begging her to forgive him, he's innocent, it's the dirty kids fault not his, come meet his new girlfriend and her dc... poor DD is in absolute bits. Had to explain to her colleagues about the paedophile father, feels unsafe being there etc etc. She was polite to her aunt but really wants it all to stop.

I'm wondering what next, would it be possible to send a solicitor letter to him, his sisters (and cc social services??) just saying she doesn't want contact with any of them virtual or actual at home or in her work place etc and that she will make contact in the future if she changes her mind. Is there any value in this? I don't think she can prove harassment or anything at this stage but she is past herself with the stress and feels they are never going to stop. She's been through enough, I need to help her but I'm at a loss of how to do it without being inflammatory which she doesn't want either!

From a legal perspective does anyone think it's worth the cost of a letter?

Name change as, obviously, hugely outing!

Ouch long sorry!

TLDR dd's dad won't leave her alone, might a solicitor letter help?

Yes, tell the police and also SS.

It may also be worth having a solicitor write a warning letter to him reiterating that she wants no contact, and that him continuing to pursue her constitutes harassment.

Report him to ss. Especially if his gf has dc..

Sadly ss are already aware of the dc. She has been informed, I can't get involved in that side of things.

Just get her to apply for a non molestation order, this will stop him (if ordered) from contacting her or from using other people to contact her, and will stop him from coming within specified areas, e.g. near her home, work or place of study.

Form FL401 - no court fee payable. She can apply without notice, hopefully hearing the background the judge will issue without him being present, and once served on him it becomes effective.

She can get help with the application from NCDV.org.uk

That's really helpful thank you @JustAnotherLawyer2 I'll go through the idea with her.

She's worried about doing anything too permanent but equally needs the assurance they will stay away.

Stuff a solicitors letter you need to inform the police of his continued attempts to contact her and sent others to do the same. She needs protecting from him so personally Police, and discuss anti harrassment order with penalties (like being arrested and having to go to court) . It is still a child protection issue as she is under 18. You clearly would have the backing of SS and the court would be unlikely to have an issue with putting anti harrassment in place for you, your daughter and any other children in the house. You may need to consider his other family members in this as well.

you can get an emergency anti harrassment as well so that would be the route I would try. I am not sure how things would work with costs given she is a minor it may be subsidised but you would need to ask that of any solicitor or the court maybe in the first instance

Kee any evidence of attempts to contact on FB with screen shots and maybe also witness statement from someone helpful at her place of work

Just another lawyer beat me to it as I typed - its not nec permanent but will show how serious she is

Thank you both, I think this approach is probably sensible given the repeated attempts to down play the current issue. He has his sisters convinced he has been let off with no charges when we know that simply isn't true (but can't say anything to then because it is confidential information)

Stuff a solicitors letter you need to inform the police of his continued attempts to contact her and sent others to do the same. She needs protecting from him so personally Police, and discuss anti harrassment order with penalties (like being arrested and having to go to court) . It is still a child protection issue as she is under 18. You clearly would have the backing of SS and the court would be unlikely to have an issue with putting anti harrassment in place for you, your daughter and any other children in the house. You may need to consider his other family members in this as well.

^This

She should also block him on FB