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| Rebecca Minnock case: judge responds after runaway mother breaks silence | Rebecca Minnock case: judge responds after runaway mother breaks silence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The judge hearing the case of a mother on the run with her three-year-old son has emphasised the importance of both parents having a relationship with their child. | The judge hearing the case of a mother on the run with her three-year-old son has emphasised the importance of both parents having a relationship with their child. |
| Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled her Somerset home a fortnight ago after learning that a court had decided her son Ethan should live with his father, Roger Williams, following a two-year legal fight. | Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled her Somerset home a fortnight ago after learning that a court had decided her son Ethan should live with his father, Roger Williams, following a two-year legal fight. |
| Stephen Wildblood QC, the judge overseeing the case, told Bristol crown court on Thursday that the court’s job was to ensure both parents were able to “maintain an effective relationship” with the child. | |
| Minnock contacted the Sun newspaper on Wednesday to confirm that she and her son were “both safe and well and he is very happy”. She said: “I 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. | Minnock contacted the Sun newspaper on Wednesday to confirm that she and her son were “both safe and well and he is very happy”. She said: “I 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 paper said it did not know where she was. | “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 paper said it did not know where she was. |
| Responding to Minnock’s comments, Wildblood said: “I know the mother has contacted the Sun and expressed some views about what she thinks may occur. I think it is important the public understands the seriousness with which the court approaches the task of ensuring if at all possible that both parents maintain an effective relationship with the child.” | Responding to Minnock’s comments, Wildblood said: “I know the mother has contacted the Sun and expressed some views about what she thinks may occur. I think it is important the public understands the seriousness with which the court approaches the task of ensuring if at all possible that both parents maintain an effective relationship with the child.” |
| He thanked the media for help in publicising the case. “The court, the police and the press are working together to help find this child,” he said. “I’m very grateful for your attendance and help. It is having a dramatic effect. Thank you.” Earlier this week Wildblood took the unusual step of lifting reporting restrictions around the case in an effort to find the mother and child. | He thanked the media for help in publicising the case. “The court, the police and the press are working together to help find this child,” he said. “I’m very grateful for your attendance and help. It is having a dramatic effect. Thank you.” Earlier this week Wildblood took the unusual step of lifting reporting restrictions around the case in an effort to find the mother and child. |
| On Thursday Andrew Butt, who family members said is the partner of Minnock’s mother, appeared at Bristol crown court accused of helping Minnock go into hiding. It is understood that Butt is accused of driving Minnock from a supermarket in Highbridge, Somerset, where she lives, to Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, where she has family. | On Thursday Andrew Butt, who family members said is the partner of Minnock’s mother, appeared at Bristol crown court accused of helping Minnock go into hiding. It is understood that Butt is accused of driving Minnock from a supermarket in Highbridge, Somerset, where she lives, to Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, where she has family. |
| Wildblood warned Butt to provide “absolute truthfulness” during his evidence before the court. “I require absolute truthfulness as to what has been going on,” the judge said. “My powers are to imprison you, fine you or seize your assets for contempt of court.” | |
| The judge said Butt had been served a collection order for Ethan, which required him to bring the boy to court or pass on any information that could help in doing so. This would be given to an officer of the court called a Tipstaff, who is in charge of implementing the collection order. | |
| “If I were to find that you had not done so and that you persisted with that then it would be very serious indeed,” the judge added. | |
| Williams, Ethan’s father, is not represented at the proceedings as he has run out of money, the judge said. He has also fled the area following the publicity, the court heard. | Williams, Ethan’s father, is not represented at the proceedings as he has run out of money, the judge said. He has also fled the area following the publicity, the court heard. |
| “The father has ran out of money entirely which is understandable,” the judge said. “He has been legally represented at his own cost through these proceedings which have gone on for a long time. He has left the immediate area because of the reaction that there has been to these proceedings.” | “The father has ran out of money entirely which is understandable,” the judge said. “He has been legally represented at his own cost through these proceedings which have gone on for a long time. He has left the immediate area because of the reaction that there has been to these proceedings.” |
| Asked whether he wanted legal representation, Butt replied: “I don’t mind.” The judge explained to him that he could face prison or a fine if he was found to have breached a collection order – an order served on people who the the court believes could help find a missing child. | Asked whether he wanted legal representation, Butt replied: “I don’t mind.” The judge explained to him that he could face prison or a fine if he was found to have breached a collection order – an order served on people who the the court believes could help find a missing child. |
| Butt then told the court he would like a lawyer. The judge adjourned the case while a solicitor was found. | Butt then told the court he would like a lawyer. The judge adjourned the case while a solicitor was found. |
| Police broadened the search for Minnock and Ethan on Wednesday, while family members raised fears that she may never see her child again once she is found. | Police broadened the search for Minnock and Ethan on Wednesday, while family members raised fears that she may never see her child again once she is found. |
| Avon and Somerset police said they were investigating reports that Minnock had been spotted in Gloucestershire and the West Midlands. Relatives said it was possible she had left the country, as she has friends in Ireland and France. | Avon and Somerset police said they were investigating reports that Minnock had been spotted in Gloucestershire and the West Midlands. Relatives said it was possible she had left the country, as she has friends in Ireland and France. |
| Williams said he was deeply concerned about his son. “I’m really worried about him; I just want him back,” he said. | Williams said he was deeply concerned about his son. “I’m really worried about him; I just want him back,” he said. |
| DCI Marie Wright, of Avon and Somerset police, said: “We need to find Becky and Ethan very, very quickly. Since they were last seen in Taunton on 26 May, we have reports that they have been spotted in the Cheltenham area and more recently in the Birmingham area of the West Midlands. | DCI Marie Wright, of Avon and Somerset police, said: “We need to find Becky and Ethan very, very quickly. Since they were last seen in Taunton on 26 May, we have reports that they have been spotted in the Cheltenham area and more recently in the Birmingham area of the West Midlands. |
| “We are keen to hear from Becky or anyone who knows her whereabouts to contact us. As time goes on, we are really concerned at the emotional impact this will have upon Becky and Ethan, because the court process cannot be evaded forever.” | “We are keen to hear from Becky or anyone who knows her whereabouts to contact us. As time goes on, we are really concerned at the emotional impact this will have upon Becky and Ethan, because the court process cannot be evaded forever.” |
| Minnock is about 5ft 3ins and of medium build. She has dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair. It is not known what she was wearing when she went missing. Ethan has fair hair and blue eyes. Minnock does not drive, so police have asked public transport users to look out for the pair. | Minnock is about 5ft 3ins and of medium build. She has dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair. It is not known what she was wearing when she went missing. Ethan has fair hair and blue eyes. Minnock does not drive, so police have asked public transport users to look out for the pair. |