Ellie Yarrow-Sanders missing: High court judge sends rare Twitter plea for mother who disappeared with three-year-old son to come home

Ellie Yarrow-Sanders with her three-year-old son Olly Sheridan
PA
Katy Clifton1 February 2019

A High Court judge has used Twitter to send a come home plea to a woman who has gone missing with her three-year-old son.

Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, 26, disappeared with Olly Sheridan in July after becoming embroiled in family court litigation with ex-partner Patrick Sheridan.

Mr Justice Williams, who is overseeing the case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London, on Friday urged Miss Yarrow-Sanders to bring Olly back.

His plea was delivered in a tweet posted on the Judicial Office Twitter account using the hashtag #comehomeolly. Lawyers think it is the first time a judge made such use of Twitter.

Miss Yarrow-Sanders' mother and sister also urged her to return.

Her mother Donna, 47, and sister Maddie, 22, on Friday made a joint plea with Mr Sheridan, who is in his mid-40s, and said Olly needed to "come home to his normal life".

The tweet was issued after Mr Justice Williams analysed the latest stage of the litigation at a hearing on Friday.

Mr Justice Williams oversaw a hearing in private, but authorised lawyers to release a statement detailing his message to Miss Yarrow-Sanders. The statement was attached to the tweet.

Patrick Sheridan and his three-year-old son Olly
PA

The tweet said: "High Court Judge, Mr Justice Williams, and Ellie Yarrow-Sanders' mother and sister have made a direct appeal to Ellie to bring missing toddler Olly Sheridan home, with reassurances as to how she will be treated and given a voice in court."

The attached statement outlined the judge's concern and included a promise that he would deal with Miss Yarrow-Sanders' case fairly.

It said a senior social worker had been appointed to "promote Olly's welfare".

Lawyers said the judge had made it clear that such a move did not mean there was any chance of Olly being placed in foster care.

Ellie Yarrow-Sanders and Olly have been missing since July
PA

The statement also said Mr Sheridan only wanted Olly to be returned and would not make any attempt to have Miss Yarrow-Sanders, her mother or sister "punished".

Miss Yarrow-Sanders's mother and sister issued a joint statement with Mr Sheridan, which said: "We just want to know that Olly is safe and we plead for Ellie to return home as soon as possible. We all agree that Olly needs to come home to his normal life surrounded by family and friends."

Mr Justice Williams had initially raised the alarm about Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders at a hearing in December.

He said then that he was gravely concerned for Olly's welfare.

Miss Yarrow-Sanders disappeared with Olly a few weeks before she was due to give evidence in a "critical" family court hearing, according to lawyers.

Journalists had been barred from identifying anyone involved in the litigation.

But Mr Justice Williams has lifted the identity bar in the hope that publicity will help find Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders.

He said family members, who come from Basildon, Essex, could be named and photographs published.

Essex Police are also searching and have urged anyone with information to get in touch.

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