Kidnap boy will be 'emotionally scarred for life': Woman describes her son's 'violent' ordeals

THE MOTHER of Oliver Malkin, the 12-year-old boy abducted by his father, has said that the 'violent' kidnap ordeals her son had faced over the last six years would 'scar him for life'.

Oliver is now back with his mother, Elisa Pridmore, and his stepfather at their home in Brittany, France. He had spent the last two months with his father, who abducted him in November last year and took him to Egypt.

Peter Malkin, 54, a wealthy businessman, was jailed for 18 months at the High Court in London last week for defying a court order not to take the boy away from his mother. It was the fourth time Oliver had been abducted by his father over the last six years.

Mrs Pridmore, speaking on the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme, told Sir David: 'Each time he was kidnapped, it was very violent and that sort of trauma obviously does leave its mark on a child.

'I think he will always find it difficult to trust people and we are doing as much as we can to help him.'

On previous occasions, Oliver had gone missing for six months and 19 months. Mrs Pridmore, whose marriage to Malkin broke down in 1987, said her son would now probably have to see counsellors. 'He has been through an awful lot over six years, which is half his life.' She said her son had been told about his father's jail sentence.

In court last week, Sir Stephen Brown, President of the Family Division, revealed that a psychiatrist's report, prepared by Dr Donald Holt, indicted Oliver had suffered severely from the abduction. The 12-year-old was described as sensitive, vulnerable, needy 'and in colloquial terms, he is in a mess'.

Mrs Pridmore, who is suffering from cancer, said the 18-month prison sentence imposed on her former husband meant the family 'could breath again'. She said they had lived in fear for six years.

Oliver, she said, was relieved to be back home 'because he can play with his friends like a normal child without wondering if his father and heavies are going to turn up and snatch him'. She said she had always supported her son, if he wanted to have access to his father. 'He feels very dominated by his natural father. He doesn't trust his father, which is very sad. I think he is happy with the family he has now.'

At the High Court last Friday, as Malkin was led away to start his prison sentence, he shouted: 'I love Oliver. I wish him the best. Send all my love to Oliver - just my love.'

At a hearing on 7 February, Malkin is to seek care and control of Oliver, or alternatively reasonable access to him.