AN AUTISTIC child from Bassaleg who used to escape from his car seat on every journey has been donated a £750 specialist seat.

Six-year-old Ioan Purchase - who also has a sensory processing disorder, communication, social and behavioural difficulties - has no awareness of danger and needs to be monitored closely.

He used to escape from his car seat on every journey, leading to a dangerous situation for himself and other passengers in the car.

His mum Sally Purchase, 31, said that she used to be very distracted when driving as Ioan would escape as well as take out his frustrations on his younger brother and other passengers in the car.

Mrs Purchase said: “I would never travel alone with Ioan; another adult would always have to be there because it was not safe.

“He would regularly slide under his seatbelt and go into the boot of the car.

“Whenever Ioan would have meltdowns, he would end up escaping from the car seat and attack his brother or other passengers.

“He recently learnt how to take the child lock off and open the car door.”

With the specialist car seat costing £750, the family turned for help to a charity funder of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness, Newlife.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, their application was fast-tracked and Ioan has recently received his new car seat, which also gives him the postural support he needs.

Mrs Purchase added: “The car seat has been a great help.

“Car journeys are no longer a hassle and we are able to go more places because I know he is safe.”

Newlife has recently launched the Newport fund, which will provide equipment for under-19s facing any significant disability, whether acquired through birth defect, prematurity, accident or illness within city.

Since 2004, Newlife has provided 35 families in Newport with disability equipment, including beds, wheelchairs, seating and sensory aids – worth more than £40,000.

For more information, visit newlifecharity.co.uk