Parents freed after revealing where baby is
A paedophile and his Thai bride, who were jailed after refusing to tell a British court where their newborn baby was being kept, were freed today.
Judge Malcolm Cotterill, sitting at the High Court in Taunton, Somerset, agreed to let Andrew and Sakunna Milton walk free after they made an emotional and tearful apology.
Mr and Mrs Milton, from Wellington, Somerset, told the court their son was born in Thailand at the end of June and was living there with 23-year-old Sakunna’s brother and sister.
Mr Milton, 38, said he was "deeply sorry" for defying the court and refusing to disclose any information about the baby's sex or location when he appeared in court last Thursday.
He explained: “I feared they would get access to my child.”
A tearful Mrs Milton, who was clutching a tissue, said she had left the baby with her family in Thailand because she was afraid Taunton County Council would take the baby from her.
Through a translator she said: “The reason I came back here is because I want to live with my husband. The reason I left the baby in Thailand is because I am afraid that they will take the baby away.”
She said she had regretted not co-operating with social services or the courts last week.
Judge Cotterill jailed the couple for contempt of court on Thursday, July 29.
Today he told them they had paid “a heavy price” for defying the court and told Mr Milton he should be ashamed of himself for exposing his wife to prison.
He went on: “You have paid a heavy price for defying the court. The court has no wish to send either of you to prison but the court’s only concern is with the welfare of your child.
“You have only yourselves to blame for the situation you have been in for the last few days.
“I have no doubt you, Mrs Milton, acted as you did under the influence of your husband.
“It is no credit to you, Mr Milton, that you exposed Mrs Milton to the risk of imprisonment and actual imprisonment. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Outside court, detective Paul Jervis said he had spoken to Interpol and would contact the British Foreign Office.
He said: “The police still need to confirm what has been said. The parents have made disclosures and we need to confirm this information.”
He added that representatives would travel to Thailand to get DNA from the baby and confirm its whereabouts.
Judge Cotterill explained that he did not have the power to order Mr and Mrs Milton to surrender their passports as their baby was born and had been registered in Thailand.
James Hayward, representing the Miltons, indicated that the couple would be willing to co-operate with police and social services and were prepared to hand in their passports until investigations were complete.
Outside court, Detective Inspector Paul Jervis said Taunton County Court had made a finding of fact that Mr Milton was a paedophile and considered a danger to children.
He said the findings were upheld when Mr Milton appealed to the Court of Appeal in March last year.
Mr Jervis said Mr Milton had not signed the Sex Offenders’ Register and had no criminal convictions.
In court, Mrs Milton was asked by Honor Clarke, representing Somerset County Council, if she was aware her husband was considered to be a risk to her son.
Miss Clarke said: “Are you aware social services are still concerned about the baby, especially in the presence of your husband?”
She replied: “I don’t know.”
Through the translator, Mrs Milton said she met her husband in a bar in Thailand and they married on September 29, 2003. She said they travelled to the UK in January this year.
Mr Jervis said police seized computer equipment from Mr Milton’s home when the couple were arrested on Wednesday, July 28.
He added: “The computer is subject to police investigations. If there is any evidence of a criminal offence, they would be dealt with in a separate matter.”
At the end of the hearing the couple left court hand in hand without commenting to reporters.
