A couple who claim their adopted son was so emotionally disturbed that he made their life hell, learn on Wednesday whether they have won a damages claim against a local council.

The child's adoptive parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claim Essex County Council was negligent in not disclosing details of his "uncontrollable and vicious" character.

The High Court ruling is expected to have significant implications for all adoption agencies.

The child, who was five at the time of the adoption in 1996, was diagnosed as suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and has been under medication in special needs care since 1999.

'Alarm bells'

The woman and her husband are suing the council for the emotional and financial damage caused to their family and home.

In an earlier hearing the mother told Mr Justice Buckley that if she had known the boy had been assessed psychiatrically it "would have set the alarm bells ringing".

The parents say they were not properly informed of the boy's serious and emotional behavioural difficulties, and in consequence were unable to give informed consent to the council's proposals for placement.

They said they only received two reports on the boy and although these warned he could be difficult, he was described as "happy and outgoing".

But the council denies any liability in the case arguing that the parents were made fully aware of what was known about the boy.

It says the boy had lived with the couple for a 14-month placement prior to the adoption in 1996 and that this placement had given them time to see how he was settling in.

The council denies negligence, and says the breakdown of the adoption could not have been foreseen.