'Adopting has destroyed us': British gay fathers who took in two Russian toddlers fear one will KILL them after being threatened with knives, screwdrivers and even strangled with a DOG LEAD
Glenn Hammett adopted Renat and Max from an orphanage in Ulyanovsk
Renat, 21, was diagnosed with Graves Disease, which causes psychosis
When Max was eight, he was diagnosed with high-functioning autism
After attending a specialist school, Max is on a very different path to Renat
At first, Glenn and Keith relished their new-found family life. But their hopes of a fairytale ending have turned into a living hell. They have been left penniless, and emotionally and physically shattered. Their kindness has even put their lives in danger. Over the past six years Renat, who is now 21, has tried to strangle Glenn, 59, with a dog lead, and assaulted both men.
He tried to suffocate his brother, threatened all three with knives and screwdrivers, hacked into their bank accounts and went on spending sprees with their credit cards.
He has punched huge holes in the walls of their London home and repeatedly smashed furniture, computers and TVs – causing tens of thousands of pounds of damage.
In desperation, Keith and Glenn eventually called the police and a restraining order was issued to stop Renat turning up at their East London home. He largely ignores the order, leaving the men fearful for their safety
Glenn admits: ‘Our lives have turned into a nightmare. We are physically, emotionally and financially destroyed.’
Neither parent imagined that life would turn out like this for them – torn between feelings of love and responsibility on one hand and intolerable reality on the other. They are speaking now to highlight the risk every adoptive parent takes when they take a child from an orphanage into their home – a child who may already be damaged beyond repair,
and who may find it particularly hard to adjust to life with gay parents. Keith says: ‘Renat has become a danger to his parents, his younger brother and himself. Even the dog is terrified of him after he broke his tail.’
Both boys admit they had difficulties at school dealing with their fathers’ sexuality, and at the peak of his disruptive behaviour Renat would even resort to hurling homophobic abuse at his parents.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4259990/Gay-dads-live-fear-adoptive-chi...