Story reported in several newspapers and other media outlets.
Wish safe return of child and child's mother.
Give support to father during this difficult time and hope things are resolved quickly.
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A mother has gone on the run with her three-year-old son after a judge ruled the boy should live with his father.
Mother disappeared from her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with her son two weeks ago.
In a highly unusual step, a judge today ruled the media should be able to report the full facts of the case in a bid to help track them down.
It comes after a hearing at Bristol Crown Court when child's mothers brother, sister and mother all swore they did not know where they were, and said they could not contact them.
But Judge Stephen Wildblood QC said he was "deeply suspicious" of their story, warning them that the longer they remain missing, the worse the situation will be once found.
He adjourned the case after ordering them to speak out if they receive any information on the pair's whereabouts.
Child has lived with his mother since his parents' separation in February 2013, with a magistrates order that his father, should be allowed contact.
This arrangement broke down, and in the 18 months since, the court heard, CM had made a number of allegations against her former partner.
These were rejected by a district judge, who in February of this year found they had been "fabricated" in order to deliberately "frustrate contact" between Child and his father.
After that hearing, Ethan began spending four nights a week with CF and three with CM.
A child psychiatrist, Dr Mark Berelowitz, found the youngster had a "warm relationship" with both parents - but, as CM continued to "extensively" quiz him over the possible allegations, he recommended Child should live with his father and have supervised contact with his mother.
A social worker and a guardian supported his view.
A hearing was scheduled to take place on May 27, but has not been seen since 8.17am that morning, when she was seen at the Asda in Highbridge withdrawing cash.
She was then driven away in a black Ford Focus, headed in the direction of Cheltenham, where members of her family live.
At the Bristol hearing, the judge found that CM had exposed Child to "emotional harm".
Anyone with any information on their whereabouts is urged to call Avon and Somerset Police on 101.
I'm afraid this story has annoyed me....had it been a father that had taken this action it would have been reported entirely differently...abduction and kidnap are the words that would have been used....not mother and child missing.
It's about time the judges took this kind of stance when there are serious allegations made that are found to be untrue...perhaps if this were the case more often so much of the injustice that is happening right now would stop. Rant over!
I entirely agree with you NJ.
The CM is getting her story on national media coverage on a daily basis - which is unbelievable and wrong.
The CF has refrained from making (quick buck) giving press interviews - he must be in a state.
Hopefully there is a positive conclusion soon - the case proves the system (CS,CAFCASS,Dr,Judges) got it right - the impact of emotional harm/ damage to the child is enormous.
You are so right NannyJane,
If the father had abducted the child there would be a nationwide hunt for a criminal, search dogs, helicopters and marksmen. Still, I hope the child is safely returned to her dad and the mother receives the help she needs.
AO
Totally with you on this guys.
Perhaps the publicity of this story might act as a deterrent in future to mothers making false allegations. If there were clear consequences in place initially, maybe this could have been prevented for this poor lad.
Mother hands herself into the Police & child is safe...after selling her story to a tabloid newspaper...whilst her mother's partner and mother jailed.
Agree with you all, if Father had done this, a custodial sentence would be minimum, the chance of contact would be zero...however in light of the media attention I have a sneaky feeling this will end up in family court again very soon...
Has she sold her story? If so, she is on dangerous ground - that would be profiting from the proceeds of a crime, though looks as though she isn't going to be charged.
As I said on another thread - the positive from this is that a judge has been willing to take the custody away from the mother because she was obstructing contact. That needs to happen more often so the message gets through.
It looks like the mother has sold her story to the Daily Mail, I suppose that because the police did not arrest her for abducting her son and have not preferred any charges she will not have committed a crime, so she is able to profit from the deal. I can't see that all the publicity will do any good for the 3 year old boy, but that has been his mother's decision.
The boy's father seems to have been very patient throughout, and seems to have his son's best interests at heart.
I think Loving Dad is right, if it had been the father that had abducted the boy there would have been an arrest, a custodial sentence and no contact at all. It does seem pretty unfair, but it seems that much of society (including the police) does not see it that way.
AO
What an absolute head case that woman is I can't stand the sight of her she's never had the best interest of her child at heart it's all about her and using him as a weapon against the dad.
Like others have said if it was the dad who done a runner with the child all [censored] would of broke loose hat off to that man he's handled everything great much respect, Atleast it has raised awareness about women making false allegations up and good on the judge for banging her relatives up for contempt of court that should further put these women off being such cow bags.
It's a poor show she never got charged with anything and basically got a little ticking off from the judge she'll still get contact with little one which is right it's just a shame she can't wake up and smell the coffee it seems like best place for little one is with dad until she sorts herself out and stops acting like a [censored].
I think the judge has been excellent in all of this - I hope he is able to influence more judges.
Since it appears she has sold her story to the press, perhaps the father can go against her for costs - it's unusual, but I can see that the judge would find that quite a delicious order to make.
Hi ACTD,
I agree that the judge has put in a stellar performance, and it would be nice to think this may be a turning point in achieving an equitable society, however I suspect normal business will resume without delay. Remember that the initial position in this case was that the boy should reside with his mother, as he did for 2 years until she was uncovered as a liar and a cheat, happy to intimidate her son for her own ends.
The father seems to have been a reasonable person in the face of false accusations (by the mother) and prejudice (by the state) throughout; that is entirely to his credit and I'm sure that after all he has been through he will be an excellent parent for his son.
The costs issue you raise would be an interesting one. I don't know (but I suspect) the mother is a very low paid or unemployed person (because she seems barely literate) and so will not have any money to settle his legal bills even if costs were awarded. I suspect the mother's legal bills were met by free legal aid (hence her lies regarding abuse), so we have all paid her bill. This is (sadly) a well trodden path, but society seems most unwilling to learn any lessons from it and thousands of similar cases.
AO
I was thinking that if she has been paid by a newspaper, then suddenly she has a lump of money available to pay legal costs, rather than from any earnings etc. 🙂