Skip to main content

EXCLUSIVE: British boy, 11, is reunited with his father after spending a YEAR in Middle East orphanage during his parents' bitter custody fight

A father had been reunited with his son after the schoolboy was trapped in a Dubai orphanage for over a year while his parents fought over who had custody of him. 

The boy's father Charles said being able to hug 11-year-old son James was the 'best present ever' after a complex legal battle with his French ex-wife was finally settled.

The emotional moment when the boy ran into his father's arms at London's Heathrow Airport was caught on camera by his delighted family.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Charles, 42, said: 'Words cannot describe what it feels like to have my son back home with me.

Charles has been reunited with his son James after three years apart. James, 11, has been living in an orphanage since 2017 after refusing to live with his mother

Charles has been reunited with his son James after three years apart. James, 11, has been living in an orphanage since 2017 after refusing to live with his mother

Charles, 42, said: 'Words cannot describe what it feels like to have my son back home with me'

Charles, 42, said: 'Words cannot describe what it feels like to have my son back home with me'

'The custody battle has cost me over £500,000 and at times my sanity, but I was never going to give up on my son.

'It is such a relief that I have him home with me and we can try and re-build our lives. This should never have taken so long but for the lies told by my ex-wife.' 

James's ordeal began in August 2017, when, then aged nine, he was unwittingly used as a pawn in his parents' bitter custody battle.

Living with his father in Dubai after his parents' divorce in 2015, a court in France awarded his 37-year-old mother full custody of the boy.

The father and son were torn apart in 2017 after a court in France awarded full custody to James' mother

The father and son were torn apart in 2017 after a court in France awarded full custody to James' mother

But when French officials arrived in Dubai to take him back, James refused to get on the plane because he was fearful of his mother.

As the two warring parents battled it out, he was taken to an orphanage 'with only the clothes he stood in' where he languished for a year.

Following a drawn out three-year fight spanning three countries this month, another French court overruled the original decision and gave Charles full custody of his son.  

After their emotional meeting, James told MailOnline: 'I am super happy. This is the most relaxed I have been for years. Now I am really excited and looking forward to the New Year with my dad.'  

Charles, from Northumberland, England, said: 'James was adamant that he did not want to live with his mother, and I was not going to send him back. He was scared of her.'

Charles added: 'I would have gone to prison for my son, but I would not have been any use to him there. 

'James had made it very clear that he did not want to live with his mother and the authorities in Dubai refused to force him to live with her.

'My ex-wife was so vindictive that she let him stay alone in an orphanage rather than be with me. It is unreal how she could do that to her son but showed the sort of person she was.'

James has returned to Britain after a three-year custody battleA French court has overruled its previous decision to award custody of James to his mother

 As the two warring parents battled it out over custody, James was taken to an orphanage 'with only the clothes he stood in'. This month, another French court overruled the original decision and gave Charles full custody of his son

James was eventually placed with a foster couple and in July flew back to the UK after his mother told him he would be allowed to stay with his father.

But instead, her lawyers went to the Family Division of the High Court in London and they enforced the French ruling that she had custody and he was taken to France.  

Charles and James were reunited at London's Heathrow Airport, before returning to the family home in Northumberland

Charles and James were reunited at London's Heathrow Airport, before returning to the family home in Northumberland

Charles said: 'The courts would not listen. They would also not listen to James. His views were never taken into consideration. 

James was kept in the psychiatric wing of the Arles hospital near Marseille while social workers reviewed his case.

In her interview, James' mother admitted that she 'beats' her children because it was accepted in her culture.

James told social workers he feared her and only wanted to live with his father.  

In awarding Charles custody, the judge said James had been a 'powerless onlooker of a chaotic family story in which his deep needs have never been heard.' 

Meanwhile Charles, who, after the ruling, met James at the airport and whisked him back to the family home in Northumbertland, blasted the lack of support from the British social services.

Despite having his son home, Charles has yet to see his two other children who live with their mother in France

Despite having his son home, Charles has yet to see his two other children who live with their mother in France

'James was tricked into the taking the flight and was expecting to be me,' he said.

'Instead he was held for 12 hours and even though I was at the airport not allowed to see him.

'He was put into a foster home for three days and then three people from a specialist company took him to France.

'If the authorities had listened to James and allowed him to have a voice then this might not have taken so long.

'My ex-wife lied and lied to the courts and they believed her. I have only my son's interests at heart.' 

'He is still very fragile from the trauma of what has happened to him in the last couple of years, but he is getting better all the time,' he said.

Despite having his son home, Charles has yet to see his two other children who live with their mother in France.

'I have had no contact with them for almost two years. My fight to see them will continue, he added. 

Charles's lawyer Toby Cadman said: 'This has been an incredibly long battle for Charles, and I am delighted that he has been reunited with his son.' 

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o