Home-alone boy kept his dilemma secret

A BOY who fended for himself for 12 days when his mother went missing covered up her absence when a close friend came to visit.

Jill Parker, 53, has not been seen since she left the home she shared with her son Rufus Pollak, 12, in Battersea, south west London, two weeks ago.

Rufus, fed, clothed and took himself to school until police were alerted to his mother’s disappearance on Thursday by a colleague concerned about her whereabouts.

Yesterday Tracy Burrage, the mother of Rufus’ friend, said: “My son Liam is the same age as Rufus and they’ve been friends since they were four.

“Liam has been going round there during the time she’s been missing and Rufus told him she was upstairs reading, or knitting or sewing.

“What’s more Rufus was at our house last Sunday and he never said anything, he was his usual happy go lucky self.”

Police have said Ms Parker has suffered from depression in the past though she is not thought to have disappeared before. She was last seen on December 7. According to reports, her husband James Polak died of a heart attack three years ago and she becomes depressed at Christmas time.

Mrs Burrage, 39, said she found out that Ms Parker was missing when Liam came home on Friday.

“He was concerned and quiet. He said: ‘I’ve got a secret, it’s Rufus’ secret. His mum has gone missing.”’

She then rang police, but they told her they already knew.

“It’s strange, it’s weird,” she said “I know he is a well adjusted boy ... 12 going on 16, but at the end of the day, he is still 12, and if my son had been in a similar situation, he wouldn’t have been able to keep it quiet for five minutes.”

She said Rufus and his mother were close, and had been on outdoor holidays to Devon and France since the death of Rufus’ father.

“I just hope she is all right and won’t get too alarmed by all this publicity - she reads a lot of newspapers,” she said.

Local newsagent Kirit Patel, 52, said: “Jill comes in here a couple of times a week and Rufus much more often, to buy sweets with his friends. He’s a very sensible, well behaved boy.”

Mr Patel’s wife Aruna, said Rufus is friendly with their son Simon.

She said: “I sold Jill a bus pass around that time when she disappeared, I can’t remember the exact day. She seemed the normal Jill, quite happy.”

Rufus has told police he last saw his mother when she left the flat at around 9.30pm on December 7.

He has now been placed in the care of Wandsworth Social Services.

Scotland Yard have urged Ms Parker to contact them. She is described as white, 5ft 7in tall and of average build. She has fair medium length straight hair and blue eyes.