Tug-of-love mum spared prison
ARUNAWAY mother who kidnapped her four-year-old child and kept him away from home for three years during a tug-of-love battle with their family has walked free from a court, after the boy’s father urged a judge not to jail her.
Nakisa Hoodfar, 31, from Stockport, tricked Kyle Wallwork into signing passport papers on the false basis that she and their son were going on holiday to Spain, before beginning a new life together in Kuwait.
Mr Wallwork, who was separated from Hoodfar, only realised he had been duped when he found out his son was 4,000 miles away with Hoodfar and her new boyfriend.
Hoodfar admitted child abduction and was sentenced to two years’ jail suspended for two years.
In a statement, Mr Wallwork said: “She took my son from me for over three years knowing that I would not have consented.
“I don’t want her to go to prison, but what she did cannot go unpunished. Those three years have lost me a massive amount of time with my son.”
ARUNAWAY mother who kidnapped her four-year-child and kept him 4,000 miles away from home for three years during a tug-of-love battle with their family has walked free from a court after the boy’s father urged a judge not to jail her.
Restaurant manageress Nakisa Hoodfar, 31, from Stockport, tricked Kyle Wallwork into signing passport papers on the false basis she and their son were going on holiday to Spain, then spirited the boy away for a new life in Kuwait.
Mr Wallwork, who was separated from Hoodfar, only realised he had been duped when he tried to speak to his son and found out he was in Kuwait with Hoodfar and her new boyfriend.
Mr Wallwork, aged 32, was barely able to contact the boy except by Skype and email, and it is believed that a warrant was issued at the High Court for the mother’s arrest.
Hoodfar went on to have two more children with her partner in Kuwait and spent three years there before returning to the UK of her own accord in July this year.
She and her new partner got married and the boy, now eight, is currently living with them in Withington.
In a statement, Mr Wallwork said: “She took my son from me for over three years knowing that I would not have consented. That’s a massive chunk of his life I have missed.
“I am always thinking of what is best for my son and I don’t want to remove him from his mother. I do get to see him most weekends. I don’t want her to go to prison, but what she did cannot go unpunished.
“Those three years have lost me a massive amount of time with my son.”
At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Hoodfar admitted child abduction and was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years.
The abduction happened in July 2015 when Hoodfar split with Mr Wallwork and was given custody of their son, and then found new love.
Prosecuting, David Lees, said: “Mr Wallwork was having regular contact with his son but the defendant asked for his consent to get a passport for the boy so she could take him on holiday to Spain.
“Mr Wallwork agreed but became suspicious when he couldn’t get hold of Miss Hoodfar. He kept trying until August 31, called the police then found out that she had taken their son to Kuwait, which she was not allowed to do.
“A court order was made for his return but it was not until July this year that he was returned, so three years after he was taken out of this jurisdiction.
“She would enable Skype contact between the two of them while in Kuwait. She told Kyle that she left the country to have a new life in Kuwait with a new partner. She did, however, return on her own accord.”
In mitigation defence lawyer Kelly Cyples, said: “She accepts that, with no family support, she made contact with her now husband and then made a decision to go out and see him.
“Ms Hoofar did not intend to remain out of the country for the amount of time that she did.
“What she saw was refuge for her isolated life, caring for her son and holding down a job while taking on the stresses and strains of being a parent. All the responsibility fell on her.
“In Kuwait, she kept her son and his father in regular contact, and she invited Mr Wallwork to Kuwait to see his son, but he declined. She didn’t have any knowledge that what she did was an offence of abduction, she didn’t realise you could abduct your own child.
“Taking a child away from a parent is obviously an offence, but that was not in her mind. She fell pregnant twice in Kuwait – both were unplanned – and there is a law in Kuwait that prevents the mother travelling without her child without the father’s permission.
“There’s no risk now of the boy being taken out of this jurisdiction again. Since her return, she has secured employment and she looks after three children.
“She is the only person in the house who has a job as her husband cannot work yet in this country.
“The impact of a custodial sentence would be devastating on the family and Mr Wallwork also doesn’t want to see her sent to prison.”
Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale told Hoodfar: “Your offence is extremely serious. It is particularly serious because of the lengthy period you abducted him for – three years.
“Your offence has caused damage to the emotional relationship with him and his father.
“You kept him out of the country despite knowing there was a court order for his return. You have shown a total disregard for the court process.”
She added: There’s a lenient sentence because of the boy’s welfare, and if there’s any breach at all then it’s likely this sentence will be activated.”