This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33254952

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Father drops case against runaway mum Rebecca Minnock Father drops case against runaway mum Rebecca Minnock
(about 2 hours later)
A mother who went on the run with her three-year-old son has been told she "owes her liberty" to the boy's father after he dropped the case against her.A mother who went on the run with her three-year-old son has been told she "owes her liberty" to the boy's father after he dropped the case against her.
Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled from her Somerset home with Ethan on 27 May, the day a judge ruled the boy should live with his father Roger Williams.Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled from her Somerset home with Ethan on 27 May, the day a judge ruled the boy should live with his father Roger Williams.
She handed herself in on 12 June after a high-profile campaign to trace her.She handed herself in on 12 June after a high-profile campaign to trace her.
Mr Williams's barrister told a judge at Bristol Magistrates' Court that his client wanted to "draw a line". The judge said Mr Williams had dropped the case to avoid a continued "glare of publicity" around Ethan.
Mr Williams, of Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, had begun committal proceedings after Miss Minnock ignored two court orders about their son. Mr Williams, of Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, had begun committal proceedings after Ms Minnock ignored two court orders concerning their son.
But his barrister, Rupert Chapman, told the court he now wanted to withdraw the application for committal. But his barrister, Rupert Chapman, told the court the father now wanted to withdraw the application for committal.
'History of breaches' 'Immense distress'
Judge Stephen Wildblood QC told Miss Minnock: "Any idea that people can behave in that way that you did and for it to be swept under the carpet is completely wrong." Judge Stephen Wildblood QC said he would respect Mr Williams' wishes but warned Ms Minnock that, had she been found guilty of contempt, he would have sentenced her to at least 28 days in prison.
But he said he would respect the father's wishes. He said: "Parents who flout court orders are the scourge of the system. It is only the mercy of the father that spares this mother."
"He and Ethan are the victims of this mother's actions and I consider that the father's voice should prevail," the judge said. Rather than fleeing, Miss Minnock should have attended the custody hearing on 27 May to argue her case, the judge said, and she could have sought permission to appeal against the ruling.
"She owes her liberty to him. Her actions had been "manipulative, attention seeking and truculent" and had caused "immense distress to many" as well as wasting "a large amount of public money".
"She must never fail to comply with court orders again." Mr Williams now wanted to "end the public displays of the difficulties that affect Ethan's upbringing", the judge said.
Mr Chapman had told the court that his client wanted Miss Minnock not to face any further action. "She owes her liberty to him. She must never fail to comply with court orders again."
"My client observes that this is a case which has been characterised by a long history of breaches of court orders at multiple stages of proceedings by the respondent, the mother Miss Minnock," the barrister said. Mr Williams' lawyer said there had been a long history of breaches of court orders by Miss Minnock but added: "In view of the fact Ethan has been returned home to his care, and that he is happy and settled at home and contact has been started, my client wishes to draw a line under the previous breaches."
"He does feel that it is important that the mother understands that any future breaches will be met by an application of this sort. Ms Minnock told the court she had only had one hour of supervised contact with Ethan, which took place on Tuesday. She added: "My big concern at the moment is, I got to see Ethan yesterday, if I am going to go to prison what emotional damage is that going to do on Ethan?"
"In view of the fact Ethan has been returned home to his care, and that he is happy and settled at home and contact has been started, my client wishes to draw a line under the previous breaches." While she was in hiding her mother, Louise, 52, and mother's partner, Andrew Butt, 56, were jailed for withholding information about Ethan's disappearance - both have since been released.
Ethan has had an hour of supervised contact with his mother since she returned him to his father. Before going on the run, Miss Minnock had fought a two-year custody battle.
Before going on the run, Miss Minnock had fought a two-year custody battle with Mr Williams.
In February, a district judge found she had fabricated allegations against her former partner in order to "frustrate contact" between him and Ethan.In February, a district judge found she had fabricated allegations against her former partner in order to "frustrate contact" between him and Ethan.
On 27 May it was ruled that he should live with his father full time. Miss Minnock fled with Ethan that day. On 27 May, it was ruled the boy should live with his father.