Urgent appeal issued to find boy and pregnant mother after social workers raised concerns
A High Court judge has issued an urgent appeal for help finding a 16-month-old boy and his pregnant mother.
Mr Justice Keehan has been told how Joeking Kyerah disappeared after social workers raised concern about his welfare.
The judge says evidence suggests that the youngster has been “spirited away” by his mother Eunice Kyerah, who is more than 30 weeks pregnant, and father Richard Kyerah.
He says it is “of the gravest possible urgency” that Joeking, who was born on February 23 2017, is found.
The judge appealed for help during a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Friday.
He was told that Mr and Mrs Kyerah, who are originally from Ghana, had links to the West Midlands, South Wales and Norfolk.
Social services bosses at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (pictured), which has offices in Oldbury, West Midlands, had welfare responsibilities for Joeking.
Mr Justice Keehan said Joeking’s case was being analysed in private family proceedings.
But the judge said all efforts to trace the little boy had failed and it was time to reveal his identity and ask the public for help.
“This child has been missing for some considerable time and extensive efforts have been made to find him,” said Mr Justice Keehan.
“They have not been successful.
“The parents have spirited him away from the authorities in an effort to avoid him being taken into care.”
He added: “I know nothing of the circumstances in which he is living or how he is being cared for.
“I have great concern about the welfare of this little boy.
“It is therefore of the gravest possible urgency that he is found as soon as possible.”
Lawyers representing social workers said Mrs Kyerah had lived in Tipton, West Midlands, and was believed to have stayed in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Mr Kyerah owned a property in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
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