Hunt for mum who f led abroad with young sons
TWO young boys are at the centre of an international manhunt after their mother fled with them to Cyprus, fearing they would be taken away from her by the courts.
A judge said yesterday he was ‘gravely concerned’ for the welfare of Charlie Clift, who turns five tomorrow, and Kaiton Warnes, two.
They have not been seen since January last year when their mother, Amelia Warnes, 23, took them on a two-week holiday.
But she never returned and is now believed to be living in Lapta, a tourist resort in northern Cyprus, with husband Jason Warnes, 26, the father of Kaiton.
Both boys are at the centre of a family court case and had been made wards of the High Court. Shortly before Mrs Warnes disappeared, the children were temporarily removed from her care and placed with her parents after an accident at home.
Judges were to decide on the boys’ future, but Mrs Warnes fled, despite visitation orders allowing Charlie’s father, Dominic Burt, to see him every other weekend.
Yesterday, Mr Burt, 25, pleaded with her to bring Charlie home, adding: ‘I haven’t seen my son since January 2014 when Amelia simply told me she was going on holiday to Cyprus.
‘My life has been turned upside down. It has been heartbreaking to be apart from him. But it is ever worse when you fear for the safety of your little lad.
‘I have no idea where he is, but just live in hope that he is safe.
‘I just pray the development today in the courts means I see Charlie again soon.’
Mr Burt reported her disappearance to East Sussex County Council social workers in January 2014 after she failed to return from the holiday with her mother, Lita Clift, 50.
In April, Mrs Clift and her husband John, 46, were convicted at Lewes Crown Court of conspiring to abduct a four-year- old boy, enabling him to be ‘removed from the country without the consent of his natural father’. They received suspended sentences.
But it was only yesterday – 20 months after the boys were taken abroad – that a judge in the notoriously secret family court ruled their names could be made public to help find them.
Mr Burt, a carpenter, of St Leonards- on-Sea, East Sussex, said he last heard from Mrs Warnes in March 2014, in a Facebook message saying Charlie was happy and well. But he has been unable to contact her since.
He met Mrs Warnes, then Amelia Clift, on a night out, and they dated for just eight weeks. But she became pregnant, and Charlie was born in September 2010.
Mrs Warnes, of Eastbourne, had Kaiton in March 2013 and married Mr Warnes later that year.
Judge Sir Gavyn Arthur, presiding over the case in London, ordered Mr and Mrs Warnes to return the youngsters, adding: ‘There is evidence which causes the court grave concern.’
Lawyers for Mr Burt and East Sussex County Council said: ‘Both boys have been made wards of the High Court after both were removed from the UK whilst on child protection plans and the subjects of family court proceedings. There are serious concerns for their safety and welfare.’
Anyone with information can call Sussex Police on 01273 475432, quoting case 461 from 29/01/14.