Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled her home in Somerset with son Ethan two weeks ago, after a judge ruled the boy should live with his father.
And after disappearing for days, Minnock conducted an interview during which she explained she felt ‘trapped’ by the judge's ruling.
‘I know I’m going to be in a huge, huge amount of trouble’ said Rebecca, ‘But it’s my son and I need to put him first over myself or anybody else.’
'I couldn't bear to leave my son,' she added.
The mother admitted she knows her family members are now also in trouble, after police suspected they may have assisted her in disappearing.
Judge Stephen Wildblood QC said he remains ‘deeply suspicious’ that they know more about their family member’s disappearance than they are letting on, also adding that he made the decision to release details of the case in order to track Rebecca down.
Ethan, 3, has lived with his mother since his parents separated in February 2013. But after it was ruled that he had been exposed to ‘emotional harm’ by his mother, the decision was taken that he should now live with father Roger Williams.
‘They are, in effect, on the run. They can’t claim benefits because, if they do, they will be found’ said the judge.