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Rebecca Minnock case: Friend admits helping mum disappear Rebecca Minnock: Grandmother jailed for lying about missing mum
(about 2 hours later)
A man has admitted helping a mother flee with her young son, after a court ruled he should live with his father. A grandmother has been sentenced to ten days in prison for lying in court about the disappearance of her daughter and three-year-old grandson.
Family friend Andrew Butt was convicted of contempt of court on Thursday, for telling "a string of lies" about the disappearance of Rebecca Minnock. Police are searching for Rebecca Minnock, who fled with her son Ethan to avoid a ruling that the boy should live with his father.
He apologised for lying in court but told the judge he did not know where Rebecca and Ethan, three, are now. Her mother Louise was convicted of contempt of court for hiding the fact that they were driven to Cheltenham.
The judge said Ms Minnock "should not see herself as being backed into a corner" and urged her to come forward. The driver, Andrew Butt, was sentenced to 28 days in prison for contempt.
Judge Stephen Wildblood QC added: "The strain on this mother now must be immense and, from what I know at present, it appears that matters have simply snowballed from an impulsive decision made by her on 27 May 2015. Earlier Butt, Louise Minnock's partner, told Judge Stephen Wildblood QC at Bristol Crown Court that he had lied about his role in events.
"That strain will only increase with the passage of time." 'Obstructed inquiry'
'Serious offence' He admitted driving Rebecca and Ethan from Highbridge, in Somerset, to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire on 27 May. That morning, a family court ruled that Ethan should live with his father, Roger Williams.
He added: "Everything possible will be done to ensure that Ethan has an effective relationship with both of his parents." Butt claimed that he did not know where Rebecca and Ethan had gone after he dropped them in Cheltenham.
The police chief leading the search has also issued a direct appeal to the mother to contact her to discuss "the best way to get you and Ethan back to some sort of normal life". But Judge Stephen Wildblood QC told him he did not believe him and was satisfied both had committed "a serious contempt of court". He told Louise Minnock she knew her daughter and Ethan had been taken to Cheltenham but had "obstructed the inquiry" by withholding that information.
Police searching for Ms Minnock and Ethan believe they are being hidden by friends or family. The case against Butt centred around his car - a black Ford Focus - which was used to drive Ms Minnock and Ethan to Cheltenham on 27 May, the day they went missing.
Butt is awaiting sentencing and has been warned he has committed "a serious criminal offence" by lying on oath at Bristol Crown Court.
Earlier, the judge also ruled Ms Minnock's mother Louise was prohibited from leaving the court building and has questions to answer in the witness box. He told her: "This time I want the truth."
The case centred around Butt's car - a black Ford Focus - used to drive Ms Minnock and Ethan to Cheltenham on 27 May, the day they went missing.
Butt had denied driving them but changed his story in court on Friday.Butt had denied driving them but changed his story in court on Friday.
He told the court Ms Minnock had asked him, the night before a family court hearing, to help her get away with Ethan. He said Ms Minnock had asked him, the night before a family court hearing, to help her get away with Ethan.
She had withdrawn £300 at a cash point in Highbridge, Somerset, and Butt had dropped the two in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where Ms Minnock's aunt lives.She had withdrawn £300 at a cash point in Highbridge, Somerset, and Butt had dropped the two in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where Ms Minnock's aunt lives.
"Basically, the plan was to keep her away for as long as possible and to generate as much publicity as possible," Butt said."Basically, the plan was to keep her away for as long as possible and to generate as much publicity as possible," Butt said.
"We felt we weren't getting anywhere. She said no-one was listening. I said: 'People will listen when you go missing'.""We felt we weren't getting anywhere. She said no-one was listening. I said: 'People will listen when you go missing'."
He said he did not know where the two were now and had not told the police what had happened because "I didn't want them to catch her."He said he did not know where the two were now and had not told the police what had happened because "I didn't want them to catch her."
"We didn't expect it to explode in the manner it has exploded.""We didn't expect it to explode in the manner it has exploded."
The search for Ms Minnock and Ethan has widened to Cheltenham and Birmingham. Media attention has intensified since a judge lifted reporting restrictions on the case.The search for Ms Minnock and Ethan has widened to Cheltenham and Birmingham. Media attention has intensified since a judge lifted reporting restrictions on the case.
Miss Minnock has been engaged in a two-year legal battle with Ethan's father Roger Williams over contact with their son. In February, a district judge found she had fabricated allegations against Mr Williams in order to "frustrate contact" between him and Ethan Judge Wildblood said on Friday that Ms Minnock "should not see herself as being backed into a corner" and urged her to come forward with Ethan adding: "Everything possible will be done to ensure that Ethan has an effective relationship with both of his parents."
He said the "immense strain" on the missing mother would "only increase with the passage of time".
The police chief leading the search has also issued a direct appeal to the mother to contact her to discuss "the best way to get you and Ethan back to some sort of normal life".
Ms Minnock has been engaged in a two-year legal battle with Ethan's father Roger Williams over contact with their son. In February, a district judge found she had fabricated allegations against Mr Williams in order to "frustrate contact" between him and Ethan
A social worker reported that Ethan was not "emotionally safe" with his mother. Ethan had been staying with his father four nights a week since February.A social worker reported that Ethan was not "emotionally safe" with his mother. Ethan had been staying with his father four nights a week since February.
The day Ms Minnock disappeared with Ethan, a district judge ruled that the boy should live with his father.The day Ms Minnock disappeared with Ethan, a district judge ruled that the boy should live with his father.