The fact that this judgment comes only days after the launch of a new campaign, called "Prison is no place for children", is a coincidence.
But what it does do is once again highlight the way some vulnerable children are abandoned after they have offended.
The Howard League for Penal Reform, which has acted on behalf of the boy, who is now 17, says it has collected examples of other local authorities that have similarly failed in their duties, and hopes to bring further cases (see News, p2).
But while the spotlight often falls on the action, or inaction, of councils, there is also an argument that the Government is failing in its duty to act as a corporate parent for all children that end up in prison.
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