A fundraising campaign for an independent review to help release a north-east man who has been detained in Carstairs has raised half of its total target.
Kyle Gibbon, who has ADHD, has been in the State Hospital almost continuously since he was 18 despite having no criminal conviction when he went in.
Since he was detained, his mum Tracey alleges he has suffered “barbaric” treatment from staff, including one incident where his arm was broken and he required 45 staples and two metal plates.
Earlier this year the Kemnay woman asked the public to donate via a Just Giving page to help build a case to let the 31-year-old return home after 13 years.
Ms Gibbon needs £3,000 to pay for a specialist independent psychiatric report into his treatment and detention – and it has now almost hit £1,500.
She said: “I am eternally grateful to everyone who has donated, I just hope we can now work towards a review for Kyle and that he will be home with me soon.
“Kyle has never been convicted of a crime, and it breaks my heart that he doesn’t have the freedom to call me when he is upset or visit his nieces and nephews, he has missed out on so much.
“The public’s reaction and support to his story has been overwhelming and very touching, my family and I really appreciate everything and we will continue to fight for Kyle to be released and cared for in the best way possible for his needs”.
Mr Gibbon – who also suffers from other autism-related conditions – had previously been treated at Royal Cornhill in Aberdeen and was due to be allowed to leave to take up a room in supported accommodation.
However, following concerns over his care, he was sectioned and transferred to the South Lanarkshire facility where he has been since.
Prior to being admitted to the hospital, Mr Gibbon had no criminal convictions. Since entering, however, he has resisted restraints – incidents that the health system logs as “assaults”.
>> Donate to Kyle Gibbon’s crowdfunding page here <<
Last month the first stage of a wider review into the detention of people with autism and other learning difficulties was published, and found that they were often left traumatised by their experiences in psychiatric units.
The report stated: “Some people felt that staff used treatment, rules and restrictions as a threat to make them behave in a certain way.
“A very small number of people told us of situations in hospital in the past where people had been harmed by staff.”
