The mother of a five-year-old girl who was “kidnapped” while on holiday in the US by the couple she met on a co-parenting website has revealed her daughter is “stuck in hotels”.
The fugitive father this week had one last chance to return the girl, or else face an immediate prison sentence.
Natalie Kennedy was 36 and worried about her biological clock when she met Philip Thomas, who was 11 years her senior, on an unregulated co-parenting website.
Kennedy, now 43, said IT consultant Thomas, 54, had defied court orders by refusing to return her daughter Alice to the UK, leaving her “heartbroken and desperate”.
She has not seen her daughter for more than four months since he took her on a two-week holiday to the United States, following a long dispute over access arrangements so he could see her.
Miss Kennedy said Mr Thomas had allowed her to have some Zoom conversations with his daughter, who seemed “unhappy” to be in Dubai with him.
Miss Kennedy has not seen her daughter for more than four months since she took her on a two-week holiday to the United States.
Miss Kennedy said IT consultant Philip Thomas, 54, defied court orders by refusing to return her daughter Alice to the UK, leaving her “heartbroken and desperate”.
Thomas broke a court agreement by failing to return Alice on August 6 to her mother’s home in Gorleston-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
He then flew with Alice from Florida to Dubai on August 21 and is believed to have been with her since then in the UAE city-state.
Family Court judges treated the case as “child abduction” and issued four separate orders for Thomas to bring the young man home, which were ignored despite the threat of a fine, prison or asset seizure if he did not comply.
Miss Kennedy previously claimed Thomas says he has not complied because he is “scared” of the consequences of returning and claims his rights as a father have not been properly taken into account.
Thomas has created her own website called FairParentingUK and an associated podcast, which she uses to campaign for reforms in the UK family courts and what she sees as injustices in the system.
The family division of the High Court heard Thomas’ whereabouts are unknown.
She said The times: ‘Alice is just stuck in hotel rooms. When I talk to her, I know she wants to come home, but she’s putting on a brave face.
Miss Kennedy from Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, is struggling to get her daughter Alice home from Dubai.
Thomas broke a court agreement by failing to return Alice on August 6 to her mother’s home in Gorleston-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Miss Kennedy last saw her daughter when she dropped her off at school on the last day of term on July 21 this year, allowing Alice’s father to collect her.
Miss Kennedy said she had her daughter with Mr Thomas after meeting him on an unregulated co-parenting website which aims to bring together people who want to share in raising a child.
Single mother Natalie Kennedy, 43, is pictured with her daughter Alice in happier times.
She hasn’t seen her daughter since Thomas took Alice on a two-week vacation to the United States.
‘Philip is trying to blackmail me into giving in to his demands. He is using Alice as a way to get what he wants.
Thomas appeared to show little emotion as he appeared via video link as Judge Cusworth said: “Playing with Alice as a pawn is not in her best interest” and “The time has come to bring Alice back to this country.” .
Thomas was given a one-year jail sentence suspended until March 7 so he can have one last chance to return to the UK.
The judge added: “We need to make arrangements for him to come to this country with Alice soon, for his sake, for her sake and for the sake of his mother.” He can’t live on the run with Alice forever.
Representing Thomas, Edward Bennett told the court: ‘His position is very clear. He is willing to return in March if there is progress during mediation.’