An 18-year-old autistic man is being held in prison since no disability service providers have stepped up to offer an alternative place for him. Photo: FileA severely autistic young man is being held in prison because disability service providers cannot find an alternative place for him. Community liaison nurse Grahame Stillwell said the young man was taken into custody on Sunday, after allegedly assaulting his mother. The young man was in a prison T-shirt and is being held in Whanganui prison in the at-risk unit. "We have a young man in jail because services aren't stepping up to the plate," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 20, 2016 01:52 UTC