A British mother extradited from Spain on child abduction charges has been told to return her children, or go to jail.
Trudy Crofts, 32, is accused of failing to return her daughters Carene and Shelby Crofts to their grandmother and legal guardian Rita Astbury, after an access visit.
Carene, 12, and her sister Shelby Crofts, were taken from their grandmother's home in August by Trudy Crofts, who has occasional access to the girls.
Trudy is said to have taken the girls to North Africa where they have been left with the family of her boyfriend Sam Zaroli, in the Morrocan city of Fez.
Crofts attended a family court hearing at Preston Crown Court at 2pm on Tuesday, where the case was heard by a High Court Judge.
Mr Justice Bennett, ordered that arrangements must be confirmed for the children's return to the UK by 3pm on Friday, or further action would be taken against the mother.
He said; "It is not open to the mother to chose whether or not to obey it. She has an absolute obligation to obey what I am ordering."
He warned that any failure to comply would be viewed as contempt of court, a crime which carries an automatic jail sentence.
A second hearing will take place on Monday, where the Judge will demand evidence to show the order has been complied with.
Post a comment