Taunton: Mother Becky Minnock goes on the run with son Ethan, 3, after court rules child should live with father

A Somerset mother is on the run with her three-year-old son after a court ruled the child should live with his father.

Police have issued an appeal to find Rebecca Minnock, 35, who was last seen with son Ethan on May 26 near Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton. There have been possible sightings but so far no details have yet been given.

She was due to appear in court in Bristol but failed to show up. Concern is now growing for her welfare and that of her son.

Minnock is described as white, about 5ft 3in tall of medium build with dark wavy shoulder length hair. It is not known what she was wearing when she went missing. Ethan is white with blond hair and blue eyes.

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Police said: "Becky does not drive and regularly uses public transport so we would urge anyone who uses public transport to keep a lookout for Becky and her son.

"We would like Becky or anyone who has been contacted by her or has seen her and son Ethan, to contact us, to confirm she is alright."

At the missed hearing, the judge reportedly ruled Ethan should live with his father Roger Williams and Minnock should only have supervised contact.

The judge said the three-year-old had been exposed to "emotional harm" by his mother and she had breached previous court orders.

Her mother Louise Minnock, who has since been ordered to court to account for her daughter's whereabouts, said her daughter was "very upset" ahead of the hearing.

"She said she had had enough of being failed," she said.

She attended court along with Becky's brother Marvin Shaw and sister Limmie Shaw. They informed the judge they did not know where she was and had not been in contact with them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Somerset Investigations on the force number 101, quoting reference MP2189/15/.