A HEARTBROKEN dad has branded a decision to delay the return of his autistic son to Scotland as "evil and inhumane".

Paul Browne, 58, has had to travel more than 600 miles to visit his son Darren for the last nine years after he was moved to a specialist facility in Birmingham.

Darren, who is now 29 and takes 16 different medications a day has autism, cannot speak and has a range of complex needs - none of which could be catered for in Scotland when he was taken to England in 2008.

His family were told he would only be down south for two years, however had to take the case to court after being promised numerous facilities which then fell through.

In November a judge ruled Darren should be moved back to Scotland and to a facility in Milton of Campsie which had been identified as suitable.

He was supposed to be moving in March when Renfrewshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said there was a problem, and the agreement was severed with contractors who were supposed to be providing Darren's care.

The local authority said they were concerned the care providers "had not grasped the complexities of the situation."

Now Darren is facing at least another two years in Birmingham while the authorities start their search for a care provider from scratch.

Dad of-three Paul, who lives in Coatbridge, said: "Criminals get treated better than my son.

"I don't know how they can go against a court order. We've been totally given the run around here and Darren is losing out. He's so far from his family.

"We go down once a month to see him but its very difficult for him and us, and we hate leaving him.

"It's also really hard for my other two children - Heather and Paul. They've got another brother and they can't see him. They find it heartbreaking.

"Do these people who make decisions for Darren, do they just go home and not think about what they're doing?

"This is the fourth time, the fourth year in a row, that they've told us they found a place for him and it fell through.

If I had known he was going to be in England for 11 years when I said he could go in 2008, I would never have signed off on it. It was the wrong decision.

"The whole thing is deplorable, evil and inhumane."

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said: "Renfrewshire HSCP has been working over the past year to agree a care package and provider for a client who is currently in private hospital in Birmingham.

"We had identified a provider last year but have had to re-evaluate our situation as we cannot agree a position that would fully meet the client's complex care needs.

"Therefore we have taken the decision to withdraw from the current process and prepare a new plan for future provision of care in Scotland.

"Renfrewshire HSCP takes their responsibilities to service users extremely seriously.

"We recognise the challenges that can present with any client with a complex need and strive to work closely with service users, family and carers and our care providers to identify the most appropriate care, treatment and support package for each individual."