Couple who fled UK may keep baby

Nicky and Mark Webster A Norfolk couple who fled to Ireland in a bid to prevent their baby being taken into care no longer risk losing custody of him, after a High Court ruling.

Mark and Nicky Webster left the UK over fears their son might be taken into care, as their three older children were after allegations of abuse.

The court "gladly" gave Norfolk County Council leave to end care proceedings in the case of the 13-month-old boy.

Mr Justice Holman said there was "no current basis" to consider him at risk.

The judge also expressed his hope the future would be "very, very rosy" for the family.

The judge said he was satisfied that the position of the child had "been thoroughly investigated and assessed over a prolonged period ever since his birth".

He continued: "There is no current basis for considering that he is at any risk of harm, and there is every reason to believe that he is thriving in a caring and loving family unit and home.

"There is thus no justification or reason for making a care order or continuing these proceedings and I will formally give to Norfolk permission to withdraw them."

During a hearing this week, the couple's fears over the future of the child were finally put to rest.

Norfolk County Council told the judge that it was no longer relying on expert evidence of physical abuse which led to the couple's three eldest children being taken away from them and adopted.

'Removing stigma'

The judge was told that evidence of multiple non-accidental fractures suffered by one of the older children had since been challenged by fresh medical opinion.

Some of the new evidence pointed to accidental fractures of fragile bones resulting from vitamin deficiency - perhaps even scurvy - which was virtually unknown in modern times, said Kate Thirlwall QC, for the council.

As a result, the council was no longer seeking to establish that either parent caused the older child's injuries and was satisfied that the couple's youngest child was being "very well looked after".

The court heard that the parents have decided to take their case to the Court of Appeal in the hope of "removing the stigma" of being wrongly accused.