A woman who went on the run with her three-year-old son after a court ruled he should live with his father has handed herself into police, according to reports. Rebecca Minnock, 35, surrendered after 17 days in hiding with her son Ethan, telling the Daily Mail: “I feel that my time has run out now.”
Earlier, Minnock’s mother, Louise Minnock, and her partner, Andrew Butt, were jailed for lying about helping her go into hiding. Louise Minnock received a 10-day sentence, while Butt was jailed for 28 days after being found in contempt of court. The judge described the plot to generate publicity for the custody battle as “wicked”.
Butt admitted in court that he and Minnock had planned her flight the night before she vanished on 27 May. He said she drew out £300 from a cashpoint and he drove her to Cheltenham, telling her: “Keep running … keep moving.” Butt added: “The plan was to keep her away for as long as possible and generate as much publicity as possible.”
The judge, Stephen Wildblood QC, allowed family court proceedings to be reported in full to publicise the hunt. He made a direct appeal to Minnock, promising: “Everything possible will be done to ensure that Ethan has an effective relationship with both of his parents.”
Avon and Somerset police had issued a video appeal to the missing woman on Friday. DCI Marie Wright told Minnock: “There is always a solution and a way forward and we can help you through this.”
