A father of a young boy aged five appeals for the return of his son following the boy’s disappearance in the midst of their ongoing family court proceedings. The young boy identified as Charlie Clift is believed to be in Cyprus with his mother and younger brother Kaiton Warnes.
Concerns heighten as the two young boys were removed from the UK while on Child Protection Plans, increasing the risk of the children’s welfare and safety. The family court Judge expressed the court’s “increasing concern that the mother and her husband are refusing to comply with court orders and in doing so are making a worrying situation worse for all”. Charlie Clift’s father urged his ex-partner to return the boys to England after not having seen his son for months and believes that by taking the boys away “it will only get worse”. The mother of the two boys responds by admitting that she ‘refuses’ to return home, giving Charlie Clift’s father no sign of hope.
The children’s maternal grandparents who are at the centre of the search for the young boys, are said to have some information on the children’s whereabouts. The maternal grandparents come into question as they currently serve a suspended prison sentence for conspiracy to abduct Charlie Clift earlier this year.
The unusual act by the Judge to reveal the two young boys’ identity who are also wards of court calls for the severity of the matter and urges the public to assist with the search for the two boys. Despite the mother of the two boys vowing to never to return to the UK, Sir Gavyn Arthur has ordered the boys to return home as “there is evidence before the court which causes the court grave concern” in relation to the children’s care proceedings.
The children disappeared with their mother on what should have been a two-week holiday in January 2014, despite leaving for holiday without warning in respect to the child protection plan currently in place.
The two young boys continue to be the subject of an ‘international manhunt’.