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Lucy lives in Lancaster with her parents, Rachel, an account administrator, and Jeff, a senior engineer. Lucy, who has a trouble-free, 18-year-old brother, James, did not create any terrible difficulties when she was growing up and attending a nearby state school. Her life took a dive when she reached 12 years old. Rachel complains that Lucy has punched and kicked her and spat at her. 'She'll stand there with a knife saying, "What will you fucking do if I stab you?"’ Lucy's parents complain that she just screams constantly and is always asking for money. Jeff adds: 'Her violent tantrums are tearing our family apart. She's kicked me. She's poked a hockey stick in my face.' 'Say like my Mum and Dad were driving right in the car, then they crashed, and then I get lots of money, ain't that good?' 'She's pee'd in a pot and left it in her bedroom on the shelf, and there's regularly mouldy food in there,' Rachel says. 'I just don't know what the way to deal with it is, I'm absolutely lost,' says Rachel, who describes Lucy's brother as a 'placid pussy cat' by comparison with his sister. 
Lucy's time at Aspen didn't go smoothly. Four weeks into the course, she faced the ultimate sanction for her behaviour – and was transferred to another site. As a result, her stay in Utah was longer than the other girls – a whopping 92 days. But despite this initial lack of promise, there has been a radical transformation. Since coming home in mid November 2005, she is back at school. She has a part-time job as a silver-service waitress and she has applied to join the navy. She no longer has aggressive outbursts. Her Mum says: 'It's like having a different person living in the house. Sending her was the best thing that ever happened and I would send her again in a heartbeat if I had to. I am not afraid of her any more.' |
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