Family set up petition in support of Ms Minnock which has 1,600 signatures

Three people - Ms Minnock's mother, brother and sister - have all been arrested accused of

A mother on the run with her young son last night said she knows she’s in a ‘huge amount of trouble’ but has to put him first.

As police widened the search for Rebecca Minnock and three-year-old Ethan, relatives said she is a ‘fantastic’ parent who fears she will never see him again if she brings him back.

The missing mother said she ‘couldn’t bear’ to be without Ethan, who a court has ordered should live with his father.

‘I know I’m going to get caught but each day I get with my son is precious,’ Miss Minnock said. ‘We’re both absolutely fine and he’s very happy.’

Asked why she went on the run, she said: ‘I’ve lost all faith and trust in the system. I know I’m going to be in a huge amount of trouble… I didn’t think it would go to this extent. I didn’t realise my family would get into trouble.

‘Of course I’m sorry for what I’ve done – but I have to put my son first.’

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Mother Rebecca Minnock, 35, (pictured) fled her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with her son Ethan (right) two weeks ago following a court order that he should live with father Roger Williams

Miss Minnock said she was 'sorry for wasting police time' but that her 'instinct just said "go".'

The former call centre worker, 35, told The Sun: ‘I just felt trapped … I need to put him first over myself or anybody else.’

Miss Minnock’s family said she had ‘panicked’ when a judge ruled the boy should live with his father.

Detectives, who are concerned about the ‘emotional impact’ on the boy, said there had been possible sightings of him with his mother, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and Birmingham. Police believe the pair were driven away from their home town in a black Ford Focus, caught on CCTV.

Miss Minnock fled her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with Ethan two weeks ago, following a court order to hand him over to ex-partner Roger Williams, 39 – after a bitter two-year custody battle.

She was meant to attend a family court hearing, in which the order was due to be made, in Bristol on May 27, but failed to turn up. Miss Minnock was last seen at Asda in Highbridge at 8.17am that day, withdrawing cash, before being driven away towards Cheltenham.

She said last night: ‘I knew they’d planned on taking my son away from me on that day. I was just too scared. I didn’t feel I had a choice. I know what I’ve done is wrong … But I was desperate at the time and my instinct just said to me “go”. Everybody gets caught in the end … I’m sorry for wasting police time.

Hunt for Becky and Ethan: Map shows last confirmed sighting of the mother and son and the new search area

Ethan (pictured left) went missing following his mother's custody battle with his father Roger Williams (right)

On May 27 this year a district judge ruled Ethan (pictured) should live with Mr Williams after finding that Ms Minnock had made false allegations and obstructed contact between father and son

She added: ‘I know what is best for Ethan because he’s my son … I feel social services have let me down and the court has been unfair.’

One of the missing mother’s aunts, Margaret Minnock, 60, said her niece, who was educated at a Catholic school and studied art at college, had decided at the last minute against going to court.

She told the Mail: ‘She panicked. She had every intention of going to court … She knows there’ll be consequences … there has been little thoughts of, “Shall I just give myself up?” … I think she’s hoping that somebody will come out and there’ll be a miracle and they’ll help her get justice.

‘I think … they’ll track her down and take Ethan and she’ll never see him again.’

Police were initially unable to reveal the circumstances behind the disappearance. But on Tuesday, a judge allowed the full facts to be reported to help find Ethan.

Judge Stephen Wildblood QC lifted the reporting ban after Miss Minnock’s brother Marvin Shaw, 29, sister Limmie Shaw, 19, and mother Louise Minnock, 52, appeared at Bristol Crown Court.

All three were arrested on Sunday in relation to the family court proceedings but were not charged.

Limmie Shaw, 19, pictured left and right with her mother Louise Minnock, 52 - they were both arrested

Roger William's home (pictured) - Ms Minnock ran after Mr Williams was awarded custody of Ethan

Announcing his decision, the judge said: 'Any assistance by the Press in finding out where he is will be gratefully received. It is really important that we work together – the court and the Press – to find where this child is.'

Mr Shaw and Mrs Minnock gave evidence to the court, swearing they did not know the location of Miss Minnock or Ethan.

The judge added that he remained ‘deeply suspicious’ that the pair had not revealed all they could.

He said: 'I have suspicions that you know more. If there is more to be learnt, it will be learned. You need to be aware of that.

'If there's any untruthfulness at this stage then it would be perjury. The stakes are now exceptionally high. We need to make sure this child is found.'

He instructed Ms Shaw, Mr Shaw and Mrs Minnock to inform police immediately if they received information of Ethan's location.

Last night another of Miss Minnock’s aunts, Anna Peters, 53, said: ‘Why should we help the judge who’s going to take her boy off her? … She’s a fantastic mother … and the courts have made her out to be this loopy woman. It’s been a horrendous two years for her and her mum.’

The aunt said Miss Minnock’s relationship with Mr Williams, a consultant at a nuclear power station who lives about two miles from Highbridge, ended about a year after Ethan was born.

Ms Minnock and Mr Williams were allegedly engaged in a 'two-year bitter court battle' for custody of their son

Little Ethan pictured left, with his Aunt Limmie, and right, with his aunt, Anna Peters in Cheltenham

Caroline Minnock, 53, a third aunt, said: ‘[Becky] said she’d rather [Ethan] be in care than be with his father.’

Detective Chief Inspector Marie Wright said: ‘As time goes on we are really concerned at the emotional impact this will have upon Becky and Ethan because the court process cannot be evaded forever.

‘We need to find them very, very quickly. I am asking for friends and family to come forward as soon as they can and tell us where she is.

‘I am asking anyone who has seen them to contact us. It is very urgent.'

Ethan has lived with his mother since his parents’ separation in February 2013. Legal proceedings began the following month, when Mr Williams applied to see his son.

Magistrates ordered the father should have some contact with Ethan in Miss Minnock’s presence in August 2013 but the arrangement broke down two months later.

Bristol Crown Court, where Judge Wildblood lifted reporting restrictions to appeal for the pair's whereabouts

A statement released on behalf of Mr Williams said: ‘The welfare and safe return of his only child, Ethan, is understandably his priority.

'Mr Williams is working closely with the authorities to ensure Ethan is located and the decision of the court is upheld.’

An ex-partner of Miss Minnock’s mother was arrested yesterday on the judge’s orders. Andrew Butt will appear in court today.

Mrs Minnock told the court Mr Butt owned a black Ford Focus and gave her and her daughter lifts as they do not drive.

Anyone with information about Ethan and his mother is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.