A JUDGE has been praised after taking the unusual step of writing to children involved in a custody battle about her decision.

Sheriff Aisha Anwar had been charged with making the decision as to whether a father could have access to his children, who had told a specialist they no longer wanted to see him.

The case at Glasgow Sheriff Court resulted in a ruling that he should remain in contact, so the sheriff wrote to the children explaining why.

She said: "I think that as my decision is all about you, it is only fair that I should write to you. I have not met you, but I have heard a lot about you.

"I know, from what your mum and (the specialist in the case) have told me, that you don't want to see your dad.

"I can understand that. Your dad's job is to care for you, protect you, love you, help you, make good plans for you and to know what is right for you. Sometimes, he has not been very good at that."

Sheriff Anwar went on to explain, having spoken to their father, she believes he is not a bad parent but instead does not know how to act sometimes.

In the near-unprecedented letter, she explained both parents would receive help to build a better relationship and work on their behaviour.

She wrote: "I think that your dad needs some help to understand how you are feeling and to understand how he can be a better dad to you. 

"I think that your dad needs some help to make sure he doesn’t make the same mistakes. I have asked him to get that help and he has agreed. 

"He might also, sometimes, need some help from you to understand how you feel." 

Sheriff Anwar added: "I don't think that it is good for you to grow up thinking you have a bad dad. I don't think that it is good for you to forget all the good times.

"I think that it is better for you to get to know your dad again and to give him a chance to make things better."

The move echoes a similar case in England where a High Court judge wrote to a teenager last month to explain why he turned down his wish to be allowed to live with his father.

Mr Justice Peter Jackson wrote to the 14-year-old boy, known only as Sam, to inform him that he would not allow him to move to Scandinavia following the collapse of his parents’ marriage.

Turning down his request to be able to follow his father Justice Jackson told the boy that he was a “self-centred” and “troubled” man who exerted too much influence over him and did not appear to have his son’s best interests at heart.

He stated in the letter: “I believe your father has in some ways lost sight of what is best for you. I would worry about how it would be for you if things started to go wrong. 

"I think you would find it exciting at first, but when reality set in, you might become sad and isolated."

Family law experts have praised Sheriff Anwar's actions, and called for similar steps to be taken in future.

Janys Scott, QC, chairwoman of the Faculty of Advocates' Family Law Association, said: "The letter from Sheriff Anwar to the children is the Scottish courts at their best.

"She has not only made the decision she considers is in the children's best interests, but she has thought carefully how to explain it to them, so they know why she has made this decision.

"She was clearly keen to avoid either parent giving them a partisan view of her decision, but more than that, she was concerned that, after a difficult and distressing litigation, this family had the best foundation she could give them for future more positive relationships. It would be great were this a pattern for future cases."