A British judge has ruled that an eleven year old boy leave his mother and move more than 160 kilometres to live with his father who he has not seen in nearly four years.
The Appeal Court acknowledged that the boy was "thriving" under the sole care of his mother, and enjoying a full life of activities reports the Daily Mail.
The boy's parents split up before he was born and the father has been trying to win access for years.
His mother maintains she was happy for her son to have contact with his father, but at a time when he felt ready.
Judge Clifford Bellamy at the Appeal Court said he was unconvinced that the mother really wanted contact to resume.
The judge said that the mother's arrangements for the boy to have extra-curricular activities every day of the week left no space for his father, adding: "All of this strongly suggests that, in truth, the mother has no real wish to see contact restart".
Judge Bellamy felt any animosity felt by the boy towards his father would disappear once he was living under his father's roof.
Experts say the judgement reflects the increased emphasis courts put on the importance of the role fathers have in the upbringing of children and the need for children to have contact with both parents, reports the Daily Mail.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
UK boy to live with dad against will
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
