Snatched

Yet what has happened is almost beyond meaning. Beyond comprehension. Catherine's children were never returned from a holiday in their father's homeland of Germany. A protracted legal battle followed. Despite Catherine being their legal custodian, the German authorities ruled that Catherine should have no access rights to Alexander and Constantin until 2003 because it would be too traumatic - after so many years of separation, she had practically become a stranger to them. Despite repeated court applications to see her children, access arrangements were reneged, rulings failed to be enforced.

Time ticked on, years passed. More court cases, more rulings, more judgements. Until time finally ran out for Catherine. The courts ruled that it was too late to return Alexander and Constantin to England: the children had adapted to their new environment, they decided, and going back would be psychologically damaging.

Since their abduction almost eight years ago, Catherine has seen her children for a total of 24 hours. 'People say that what has happened can't be possible,' says Catherine. 'How can a mother be denied access to her children?' How indeed.

Local judgement
Tracing an abducted child can be extremely difficult, says Chief Inspector Tim Bonnett, co-ordinator for the UK Missing and Exploited Children Web Site which runs an international database of missing children. Unlike runaways, who usually operate alone, an abducted child is easily led by their parent.

'An abducted child will be in the care of somebody who has the mental capacity to hide them, to disguise them, to move much more freely,' says Chief Inspector Bonnett. He cites the case of one father who went on the run with his daughter for two years after setting up a new bank account, new credit cards and a new mobile phone. 'Basically, he was able to disappear and restart his life.'