Mother slams police officers' 'excessive force' after her son with Asperger's was pushed to the floor and taken back to his care home in handcuffs because he stayed at his parent's house for too long 

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A mother has criticised the police after her disabled son was pushed to the ground and led away in handcuffs because he was late back to his care home.

Helena Reid, 50, from Sheffield, claimed the police response was excessive after '12 officers' arrived to take Brandon, who has Asperger's, back from a visit to his family.

Miss Reid said they need better training on handling disabled people after the response, which aggravated Brandon because he struggles to deal with large groups.

A mother has criticised the police after '12 officers' arrived to handcuff her disabled son and take him to his care home after he stayed at her house too long

South Yorkshire Police claim that only five officers arrived and that they had no choice to restrain him when he became violent as they tried to take him away.

But Miss Reid, who was forced to watch as Brandon was handcuffed, said: 'Why does it take 12 officers to come for a 15-year-old boy?'

The mother-of-two described her shock when she realised how many officers had arrived, after she had spoken to one the previous night about his late return. 

She added: 'I came to the door and there were just two officers who just said they wanted to talk with Brandon. I let them in and the next thing I know, ten more start coming in after them.

'Brandon is not very good at being around so many people so having that many come was really distressing for him.

'The policemen started talking with him while I was on the phone trying to speak to our solicitor as I did not think they had the right to take him without a court order.

'While I was on the phone, the officers grabbed him and held him down on the floor while he was handcuffed. They must have used some force because he had carpet burns on his face.'

Brandon was left with handcuffs on her face after being taken out in handcuffs

Brandon had been back at his mother's home for an approved visit over the bonfire night weekend to see his family.

The weekend is always special for the family, which is why Miss Reid successful had the visit extended by a day, as it was also the anniversary of the death of Brandon's eldest sister.

Brandon was supposed to return to the care home in Stoke-on-Trent on November 6 but contacted the home and they agreed he could spend the extra night.

However, he did not want to return to the care home and decided to run away at 7:30pm on November 7 so care home staff could not collect him.

He eventually returned home at 11:30pm and a police officer came to check on Brandon and Miss Reid said the officer felt comfortable leaving him at home.

The following day, a social worker with what she thought was only two police officers arrived at the home asking to talk to Brandon.

His mother, Helena Reid, from Sheffield, claimed the response was excessive after Brandon, who has Asperger's, was handcuffed in her home

Miss Reid later noticed the other officers along with a 'riot van and several police cars'.

She said: 'I still find the whole situation ridiculous. Brandon has run away three times since he was sent to Stoke, one of the times was because he wanted to come home because his sister just had a baby.

Brandon had been back at his mother's home (pictured together) for an approved visit over the bonfire night weekend

'I don't think the police have enough training to deal with people who have disabilities. Brandon may have run away but he has never been violent.

'Because he has Asperger's, he doesn't like being touched so obviously he reacts. His Asperger's also makes it hard for him to handle large groups of people.

'Brandon was resisting but that was only because of the situation they put him in. I was so angry at their heavy-handed approach. There was no need for it.'

Miss Reid says Brandon was voluntarily admitted into a care home after she started suffering from depression and his school placement had broken down.

She added: 'He was put on a section 31 care order in June 2015 and placed in a care home in Manchester but I brought him home on August 9th 2015 because he was not treated well there. They allowed him in my care until August 8th this year before he was placed at Stoke.

'His sister has now moved in with her partner and baby so I want Brandon back living with me again. Brandon gets on so well with his new nephew.

A social worker with what she thought was only two police officers arrived at the home asking to talk to Brandon then 'ten more' walked in, she said

'They have such a nice bond with each other. He does not like the care home in Stoke and he feels it is too far away from his family in Sheffield, which is why he runs away.'

Miss Reid has contacted her local MP, Gill Furniss, who represents Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough.

He has run away from the home three times, once when his sister (pictured together) had a baby

Furniss has said she was appalled to hear what happened to the young man and has contacted South Yorkshire Police regarding the incident.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: 'At the request of Social Services, officers attended a property in Parson Cross on Monday, 7 November, to assist in returning a 16-year-old boy, currently under a Section 31 Care Order by the courts, to his residential home in Staffordshire.

'The request was received due to reported violence from the boy when attempts had previously been made to return him from Sheffield to Staffordshire.

'Officers arrived at around 5pm and threats of violence were made towards them. All efforts were made to reason and negotiate with the boy and his mother however a resolution could not be reached and a decision was made use police protection legislation to place the boy back into the care of Social Services.

'Five officers were involved and gave full care and consideration to the boy's age and his medical conditions. The boy was not injured and minimal force was used to remove him from the property, but it was necessary to restrain him as he became violent towards officers causing minor injuries.'