Queensland mother built cage for ice-addicted son
A Queensland mother who claims she was forced to lock her ice-addicted son in a metal cage has made a desperate plea for help.
The woman, from Rockhampton, told The Morning Bulletin she built the in-house enclosure after the 17-year-old made repeated attempts to take his own life.
"I rang every rehab centre in Australia; you name them, I've rang them," she told the paper.
"They wouldn't touch (him) because he is too suicidal.”
The woman said her son consented to the cage because he was desperate to get better.
"People don't view it as being sick because it is self-inflicted, but it wouldn't be self-inflicted if he had the mental health support in the beginning,” she said.
"I am just one person begging for help and there is no one to help us.”
The woman spent more than $3000 on the structure, which has metal bars on the doors and locks on the windows.
However police told her it was an offence to imprison her son and that she would be charged with deprivation of liberty if she did not let him out.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health contact LifeLine crisis support on 13 11 14.
Morning news break – September 1
