Judge in plea to mother on the run with 3-year-old son

A judge hearing the case of a mother on the run with her three-year-old son has emphasised the importance of both parents maintaining a relationship with the boy “if at all possible”.

Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled Highbridge, Somerset, with son Ethan two weeks ago following a court order that he should live with his father, Roger Williams.

In a telephone interview with The Sun, the mother-of-one insisted both she and her son are “absolutely fine”.

Judge Stephen Wildblood, speaking at Bristol Crown Court, said: “The court and the press and the police are all working together to find this child. I am very grateful for your help. It has had a dramatic effect, as you will know. I know the mother has contacted The Sun and has expressed some views about what she thinks may occur.

“I think it is important to put right, so the public can understand, the seriousness with which the court takes in approaching the task of ensuring that both parents, if at all possible, maintain an effective relationship with the child.”

The judge later questioned Andrew Butt, the ex-partner of Ms Minnock’s mother Louise Minnock. Mr Buttwas arrested on Wednesday in the search for Ms Minnock and Ethan. At a previous court hearing, Mrs Minnock confirmed Mr Butt owned a black Ford Focus and that neither she nor her daughter drove. Ms Minnock was seen withdrawing cash at Asda in Highbridge on the morning of her disappearance before getting into a black Focus.

The car is believed to have driven to Cheltenham. There have since been possible sightings in the Cheltenham and Birmingham areas.

Ms Minnock told The Sun: “I just lost all trust and faith in the system completely. I just couldn’t bear to leave my son. I just felt trapped. I know I’m going to be in a huge, huge amount of trouble. I’ve even got family members into trouble but it’s my son and I need to put him first over myself or anybody else.” The newspaper said she contacted them from a withheld number and unknown location.

Legal proceedings started in March 2013, when Mr Williams applied for contact with his son. In January 2014, Ms Minnock made allegations against Mr Williams. These were all rejected by a district judge that April. A hearing took place last February after Ms Minnock made further allegations.

A district judge found these had been “fabricated” to “frustrate contact”.

Child psychiatrist Mark Berelowitz recommended that Ethan should live with his father and have supervised contact with Ms Minnock, a view shared by a social worker and guardian .