Couple freed after revealing baby's location

A paedophile and his Thai bride, who were jailed after refusing to tell a 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."

Outside court, detective Paul Jervis said he had spoken to Interpol and would contact the 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.