SINGLE mum Sally Meadows is fighting two local authorities to get help for her son who is 'frightened of being loved'.

Daniel Scholes, 14, has a condition called Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) which means he becomes violent when he forms attachments to people.

He is in a children's home in Devon, where the family used to live, and Devon and Dorset county councils are in disagreement about who should take responsibility for him.

Sally, 38, of Stavordale Road in Weymouth, said: "Dan was diagnosed with RAD in April last year and was recommended a therapeutic residential placement at an attachment centre, of which there are only three in the country that he's suitable for, but it costs a lot to send him there.

"This seems to be the only thing that can help him, but he's left in a children's home getting worse and worse. If he doesn't receive treatment by the time he's 16 then nothing can help him."

Sally, who has three other children, aged 12, five and three, said she agreed to Dan going into care in July last year because he had become a threat to the rest of the family.

She said he has no knowledge of consequence to his actions, fights for control of everything and can't show affection to those who want to be close to him. She said: "Dan tried to stab me twice. He thinks he's justified in behaving this way - he lacks a conscience.

"Dan is frightened of being loved. The closer he gets to people the more destructive he is. He's a threat to society and to himself if he doesn't get this help and yet everyone's just passing the buck. Nobody wants to get involved and take up his cause.

"For me it's simple. My son's got a mental condition and desperately needs help. We're a loving family and miss him dreadfully. He should be with us."

Consultant child psychiatrist with the West Dorset Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Dr Stephen Stanley worked with Daniel last year and early this year.

He said: "This is a young man with complex difficulties with a mum who is trying to do her best for him.

"There is a lack of resources nationally for young people with these problems, and the help that is available is expensive and not easy to get to."

Sally said: "I love my son and to see him like he is and not being helped is breaking my heart. He's just a child and his condition scares him too."

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: "We have been approached by Mrs Meadows and the matter is still in discussion between ourselves and Devon County Council.

"It's a very complex case and I can't say at the moment when the matter will be resolved or what will happen."

Devon County Council refused to comment.