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A woman who sparked a major kidnapping alert over a missing 5-week-old baby has been charged with abduction - and the infant has been removed from his parents' care by Child, Youth and Family.
Police held grave concerns for Sean Clifton-Grant after his mother left him with the 25-year-old woman, a friend of hers with a history of mental health problems, on Friday.
Baby Sean was at one point on Friday night fed and changed by staff from McDonald's New Lynn restaurant.
Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie of the Waitakere Child Abuse Team told the Herald the woman was known to police and CYFS and had a history of general disorder offending.
"I wouldn't say [she was] violent ... [but] I know there are issues around her mental health."
But just as specialist search teams were to be sent to join the hunt about 4.45pm yesterday, the woman and Sean appeared at Henderson police station.
Ms Goldie said the woman and the baby's mother, Phyllis Clifton, had struck up a friendship and she had offered to look after Sean when his mother needed a carer on Friday.
The woman and baby were last seen about 11.15 that night in the New Lynn area and reported as missing about 7pm on Saturday.
Ms Goldie said Sean's parents had tried to find their baby themselves before contacting police.
Police and CYFS staff were last night questioning everyone involved.
Ms Goldie said CYFS sat down with the family to discuss Sean's future care and it was decided he would be placed temporarily with Child, Youth and Family.
"We believe that the person [Ms Clifton] gave the baby to was not the most adequate person to be caring for the child."
Ms Goldie initially said it was unlikely anyone would be prosecuted, but later confirmed the other woman would be charged with abduction.
"During the interview, some things came out that made us revise our opinion about where she had been and why."
Ms Goldie would not elaborate on why a charge was being laid.
It is understood Ms Clifton has two other children who are not in her care.
While the children have not been formally removed, it is understood they are being cared for by someone else while she deals with post-natal depression.
Ms Goldie said the family had "a lot of other issues" to deal with.
It is understood the alleged abductor kept Sean safe while in her care.
McDonald's franchise owner Dinesh Mani was yesterday vague about his staff's involvement.
"From our point of view, if the baby is hungry ... or anybody for that matter, we look after them."
The defendant will appear in the Waitakere District Court today.
