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Mother and son missing after custody ruling in Bristol Mother and son missing after custody ruling in Bristol
(35 minutes later)
A mother and her three-year-old son have gone into hiding after a judge ruled the boy should be handed over to his father. A mother and her three-year-old son have gone into hiding after a judge ruled that the boy should be handed over to his father. Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with her son Ethan two weeks ago, prompting a police appeal to trace the pair. But the circumstances of their disappearance remained secret until reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday.
Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with her son Ethan two weeks ago, prompting a police appeal to trace the pair. But the circumstances of their disappearance remained secret until reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday. At Bristol crown court, Judge Stephen Wildblood QC took the highly unusual step of allowing the facts, usually restricted in such cases, to be reported to help find Ethan and reunite him with his father, Roger Williams. “Any assistance by the press in finding out where he is will be gratefully received,” he said. “It is really important that we work together – the court and the press – to find where this child is.”
At Bristol crown court, Judge Stephen Wildblood QC took the highly unusual step to allow the facts, usually restricted in such cases, to be reported to help find Ethan and reunite him with his father, Roger Williams. Minnock’s brother, Marvin Shaw, sister, Limmie Shaw and mother, Louise Minnock, were appearing before Wildblood. He warned them that they would face charges including contempt of court and perjury if they did not reveal what they knew about the whereabouts of Ethan and his mother.
“Any assistance by the press in finding out where he is will be gratefully received,” said Wildblood. Ethan has lived with his mother since his parents separated in February 2013, but in March 2013 legal proceedings began when Williams applied for contact with his son. Last month, a district judge ruled that Ethan should live with Williams after finding that Minnock had made false allegations and obstructed contact between father and son. Minnock left her home in Highbridge with Ethan and has not been seen since, despite a police investigation and campaign by Williams to find his son.
“It is really important that we work together – the court and the press – to find where this child is.” Minnock’s family have also launched a campaign claiming that she has been treated unfairly and let down by social services, police and the courts. In one Facebook post aimed at Williams, Marvin Shaw wrote: “She’s not missing. I know where they both are. And there [sic] both very safe now and just to let you know because I know you are reading this.”
Minnock’s brother Marvin Shaw, sister Limmie Shaw and mother, Louise Minnock, were appearing before Wildblood. He warned them that they would face charges including contempt of court and perjury if they did not reveal what they knew about the whereabouts of Ethan and his mother. Shaw, also from Highbridge, has since insisted that the message was motivated by anger towards Williams and said his Facebook post was false. Minnock’s sister and mother also deny knowing where they are. Shaw said that he has received three phone calls from Minnock from a withheld number, stating that she and Ethan were “safe and well”. He said that his sister had suffered a “serious injustice” but that he would encourage her to return home when she next contacted him.
Ethan has lived with his mother since his parents separated in February 2013 but in March 2013 legal proceedings began when Williams applied for contact with his son. Last month, a district judge ruled Ethan should live with Williams after finding that Minnock had made false allegations and obstructed contact between father and son. The judge said: “The family members must be entirely candid about any information that they have. I have warned if there’s any untruthfulness at this stage, then it would be perjury. The stakes are now exceptionally high. We need to make sure that this child is found.”
Minnock left her home in Highbridge with Ethan and has not been seen since, despite a police investigation and campaign by Williams to find his son. Minnock’s mother said she had spoken to her daughter on 26 May, the night before she went missing. “She knew what was going to happen in court,” she said. “I think Ethan was going to go to his father, and after a couple of weeks she would get a call from Ethan and then maybe supervised access … I think she has panicked and couldn’t take it.”
Minnock’s family have also launched a campaign, claiming she has been treated unfairly and let down by social services, police and the courts. The court heard that Minnock, who does not drive, was seen withdrawing cash at Asda in Highbridge at 8.17am on the morning of her disappearance. She was driven off in a black Ford Focus, which appeared to head towards Cheltenham, where members of her family live, arriving at 9.23am. The judge voiced suspicions that Minnock’s family knew more than they were letting on, but said contempt had not been proven.
In one Facebook post aimed at Williams, Marvin Shaw wrote: “She’s not missing. I know where they both are. And there [sic] both very safe now and just to let you know because I know you are reading this.” Minnock is described as about 5ft 3in tall and of medium build, with dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair. Ethan has blond hair and blue eyes.
Shaw, also from Highbridge, has since insisted that the message was motivated by anger towards Williams and denied knowing the whereabouts of his sister and nephew. Minnock’s sister and mother also deny knowing where they are.
Shaw said that he has received three phone calls from Minnock from a withheld number, stating that she and Ethan were “safe and well”. He said that his sister had suffered a “serious injustice” but that he would encourage her to return home when she next contacted him.
The judge said: “The family members must be entirely candid about any information that they have. I have warned if there’s any untruthfulness at this stage then it would be perjury. The stakes are now exceptionally high. We need to make sure that this child is found.”
Minnock’s mother said she had spoken to her daughter on 26 May, the night before she went missing.
“She knew what was going to happen in court,” she said. “I think Ethan was going to go to his father and after a couple of weeks she would get a call from Ethan and then maybe supervised access ... I think she has panicked and couldn’t take it.”
The court heard that Minnock, who does not drive, was seen withdrawing cash at Asda in Highbridge at 8.17am on the morning of her disappearance.
She was driven off in a black Ford Focus, which appeared to head towards Cheltenham, where members of her family live, arriving at 9.23am.
The judge voiced suspicions that Minnock’s family knew more than they were letting on but said contempt had not been proven.
Minnock is described as about 5ft 3ins tall and of medium build, with dark wavy shoulder-length hair. Ethan is of a small build, with blond hair and blue eyes.