Ferne tells jailbird Arthur he won’t be seeing their daughter again
Nobody would envy Ferne Mccann’s position right now – looking after a newborn baby while her ex awaits a possible life sentence in prison. But that doesn’t mean the TV star is sitting around wallowing. Last week, she made the brave decision to visit Arthur Collins in jail, telling him that he would never see their three-week-old baby Sunday again.
“This is the last time you will see either of us,” the former TOWIE star revealed she’d told Arthur, 25, on that visit, after he was found guilty of the acid attack that injured 14 people in April. “You have ruined our lives. And this is what you are missing out on.”
But is it really that simple?
Ferne, 27, added, “I thought it was important that Arthur see Sunday, and see exactly what his actions have led to him missing.”
But her final goodbye may not be so simple. Speaking exclusively to heat, Kim Aucott, family lawyer at Slater Heelis LLP, told us that Arthur – who’s been told to expect a “very substantial” jail term when he’s sentenced on 19 December – could demand what’s called parental responsibility. “If Ferne has put Arthur’s name on Sunday’s birth certificate, he will automatically have parental responsibility,” says Kim. “This will mean that, while he is in prison, she may still in theory have an obligation to discuss the bigger issues with him – things like where Sunday will go to school, or any medical issues. Ferne’s going to have to invite the court to remove his parental responsibility.”
But, even then, Kim says Arthur could still apply to the court for access. She adds, “The very fact he’s in prison is clearly going to have a huge impact on the decision, but it’s not an automatic ban. I could imagine the court saying no to direct contact, but that’s not to say he couldn’t have any contact at all – Ferne may be ordered to send photos and updates a few times a year.”
Meanwhile, it’s not just Arthur who Ferne may have to deal with – if she tries to keep his family away, they could also petition for access. But, Kim explains, the odds will be stacked against them. “They would have an extra hurdle to get past, as the court would have to decide whether it’s a proper application to make,” she tells us.
“Ultimately, it depends on what’s in both the child and Ferne’s best interests. But you can never say no.” n