A FAMILY told today how they face a 600-mile round trip to see their autistic son - because there are no specialist facilities in Scotland for his condition.

Darren Browne, 21, was transported in a Reliance prison van without windows to his new Birmingham home after years of living in around a dozen institutions north of the border.

His father Paul, 50, from Inchinnan, Renfrewshire is hopeful the centre will at last offer his son the help and support he needs for his autism.

But he is devastated it is so far away - ruling out regular or spur-of-the-moment visits to see Darren, who self-harms and can be violent.

Because of Darren's unpredictable behaviour, when they do make the expensive journey his family, which also includes step-mother Joan, 48, brother Paul, 20 and sister Heather, nine, cannot be sure they will be able to see him.

And if he is having a good day it is too far for them to travel for a quick, unplanned visit.

Paul said: "This new place is ideal for him and there is a programme to try and help Darren - but that's years we have been waiting for help and now he's got to go to another country for it."

Today an autism support group said it regularly received details of cases regarding adults such as Darren with challenging behaviour for whom the correct level of support could not be found in Scotland.

Carol Evans, national director of the National Autistic Society Scotland said talks were taking place in a bid to set up a national centre to meet the needs of adults with autism.

But hope of a dedicated centre being set up in the future is little comfort for devoted dad Paul, who says the move to Birmingham is just the latest nightmare in 20 years of heartache for the family.

Darren seemed like a typical baby and had even started saying "mummy" and "daddy"

But aged 16 months he turned violent, began to harm himself - and never spoke again.

He was diagnosed with autism when he was three and went into care two years later when he went to live at the Rudolph Steiner School in Aberdeen, which specialises in teaching children with learning difficulties.

Paul believes Darren's condition was caused by the MMR jab, a link that has never been proved.

Paul said: "He had been running about playing football the week before and then he was behaving like a drunk man the day after he had the jab .

"One time his mum was sitting down and he threw an Irn Bru bottle at her and split her head open. But then he went over to cuddle her.

"Later he started vomiting everywhere, self-harming and ripping down the wallpaper and curtains. It was just getting too much for everybody and our other son Paul had to stay with his grandparents as it got dangerous."

Before being moved to England two weeks ago, Darren spent six months in a secure unit at Stobhill Hospital, where he celebrated his 21st birthday.

He was moved there after breaking the cheek of one of his six carers during a violent episode caused by his illness while living at specialist NHS centre Blythswood House in Renfrew.

Paul said: "He's been passed from pillar to post. One doctor told us he's too much of a handful.

"His illness has never been treated, all they've done is try to keep him calm."

The family were heartbroken when they learned Darren was to be transported to Birmingham in a vehicle without windows provided by Reliance - best-known for transporting prisoners to and from jail - and that they were not allowed to accompany him.

Paul said: "It's in case he breaks windows. And there has to be a restraining belt to tie him in. He was sedated as well. I was so upset. I wanted to go down with my son but they said I couldn't because of the insurance."

Over the years Darren has even had to be housed in padded rooms because of the harm he can do to himself and others.

Paul said: "One of the doctors said he was like Jekyll and Hyde. He lashes out, but the next second he's cuddling you.

Though Paul explained to he was moving to England, Darren did not really understand.

He will live at Wast Hills House, a specialist centre for people with autism and other complex needs on the Cadbury Estate, near Birmingham.

Paul said: "We've made him a photo album of his family."

"And he had a rainbow cake for his birthday and somebody said maybe there's hope at the end of the rainbow for him in Birmingham. We certainly hope so."

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "The family are fully supportive of our plans to move the patient to a specialist autism centre that can provide the level of care the patient requires.

"They have been kept fully informed over the last few months and indeed, as part of our commitment to involve the family, we recently arranged for them to visit the centre in Birmingham to offer them reassurance.

"The severity of the patient's condition required them to be transferred to Birmingham by security transport for their safety."

A UK autism charity says more than half the adults with autism in Scotland do not receive enough support to meet their needs and face having to move away like Darren.

Ms Evans said: "The current facilities in Scotland cannot always meet the needs of some adults.

"We are currently in discussions with local authorities to identify the level of need and hope to work in partnership to provide a national facility for Scotland that will offer the support and resources that adults with autism deserve."