- Alex Millington-Cotes, the stepson of 82-year-old explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, has expressed concern that safeguarding officials took his stepfather's statements at face value rather than thoroughly investigating allegations of his enforced isolation from family and friends.
- The intervention follows reports that Sir Ranulph was unlawfully placed in multiple care homes under a pseudonym by his wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, who allegedly imposed strict restrictions preventing visits, even blocking outreach from long-term friends such as King Charles.
- Although Sir Ranulph previously informed safeguarding teams in London that he was content with his care arrangements, his stepson emphasised that the explorer's high level of vulnerability prevents him from adequately speaking for himself or making independent decisions.
- The Care Inspectorate Wales concluded that Sir Ranulph had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty and lacked the capacity to consent to his care, following complaints submitted to the watchdog and police by a Welsh care home owner.
- Alex Millington-Cotes is now crowdfunding a legal challenge to revoke his mother's lasting power of attorney over the explorer, seeking to secure appropriate care and oversight for Sir Ranulph.
IN FULL
