Father makes Santa’s Grotto appeal for three-year-old boy missing with mother

A civil engineer whose three-year-old son has gone missing with his former partner has renewed his appeal in the hope the pair have visited a Santa Claus.

Patrick Sheridan, 45, has not seen son Olly Sheridan or ex-partner Ellie Yarrow-Sanders for months, and says he is sick with worry.

He thinks Olly could have been taken to see Father Christmas and wants people to think whether they have seen the youngster in a grotto.

Miss Yarrow-Sanders, 26, vanished with Olly in July while embroiled in family court litigation, centred on the little boy, with Mr Sheridan.

A High Court judge who has analysed the case at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Wednesday issued an urgent appeal for information about Olly and his mother and said he was gravely concerned.

Family court hearings have been staged in private and journalists have been barred from identifying family members, who come from the Basildon area of Essex, involved.

But Mr Justice Williams said he was lifting the identity bar in the hope that publicity would help find the pair.

He said they could be named and photographs published.

Mr Sheridan on Friday urged people “rack their brains” and think if they had seen either Olly or Miss Yarrow-Sanders.

His lawyer, Jenna Lucas, who works for law firm Irwin Mitchell, added: “Perhaps you’ve seen Olly playing in the park, at the doctor, or, more recently, visiting Father Christmas.”

She urged anyone with the “slightest clue” about the whereabouts of Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders to contact the police.

Mr Justice Williams said earlier this week his level of concern was such that he decided to make Olly a ward of court – a move which places responsibility for a child directly in a judge’s hands.

He urged Miss Yarrow-Sanders to return Olly and said evidence showed children who were abducted by parents suffered long-term emotional consequences.