A WIRRAL mum whose autistic daughter was left handcuffed as she lay in a hospital bed says she has regained some of her trust in the police after learning that they have received better training.

Leigh Williams was left angered and dismayed after her then 20-year-old daughter Toni struggled in pain as she was cuffed with her hands behind her back and taken to hospital last April.

Officers were called to their Birkenhead home on April 4 by a family member after Toni – who has the mental age of a five-year-old – bit and hit her mum after getting over-excited.

Ms Williams issued a formal complaint against Merseyside Police following the incident, with more than 700 people joining a Facebook group calling for more awareness of autism.

Her campaign also gathered the support of Birkenhead MP Frank Field, who wrote to the police on her behalf demanding that reports be released.

Speaking at the time of the incident, Ms Williams said: “I didn’t want to call the police, but the social worker and community nurse said we had to.

“There were four officers, one stood in the door and three went into the living room where Toni was – I don’t know what happened in there as they wouldn’t let me or my family in.

“Toni was screaming, and when I saw her later, she had a cut on her face and bruises on her arms and wrists where the handcuffs had been.”

After arriving at hospital to see her daughter – who also suffers with epilepsy and has suffered from seizures since she was six months old - Ms Williams found she was in a state of anxiety and deeply upset, made worse by the handcuffs.

She had asked officers to move the handcuffs to the front of Toni’s body, which would have allowed her to cuddle her toy dog – which she takes everywhere and allows her to feel safe.

The handcuffs were eventually removed after requests from medical staff.

Ms Williams contacted the Globe following the incident in the hope of making officers more aware about the difficulties faced when dealing with vulnerable adults.

Following the incident, Ms Williams said what little respect she had for the police had gone and described the situation as an “injustice”.

But she has since regained some of her trust in the police after learning that officers have been given training on how to deal with such situations.

Speaking to the Globe, she said: “Although their final report to me was based on a lot of ‘Who shot John’ it had the effect I hoped for which was to bring awareness.

“I don’t regret complaining and speaking to the press although at the time the negative responses were very heartbreaking, the result was right in the end. I just hope the awareness continues because no vulnerable adult should ever be in that situation.

“The police are meant to be a safety net, they are meant to understand and it angered me that they didn’t, but since finding out that they have been training, it gives back a comfort knowing that if Toni does lash out in future, they will understand  that handcuffs and a police cell is no place for her.”

Ms Williams added: “I obviously feel now that I could have handled things better myself  - it has been a learning curve. It’s sad that it had to be my daughter’s case to make the police aware but at least knowing in the future, it might help the next Toni.”

The Globe has contacted Merseyside Police for comment several times but has so far had no response.