Woman abandons teenage daughter for new life abroad
British police and social services were today attempting to contact a mother who left her teenage daughter at home as she moved abroad.
Elaine Walker, from Redmire, North Yorkshire, decided to opt for a new life in Turkey after going there on holiday earlier this summer. It is believed Miss Walker met a Turkish man while staying in the resort of Antalya.
The mother-of-five reportedly left her 15-year-old daughter a note with £25 to live on.
North Yorkshire Police said the girl was safe and well after being abandoned at an undisclosed address in the county.
Neighbours in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales village of Redmire spoke of their shock and disbelief.
Melanie Hammond, 32, said she had known Miss Walker for several years and described her as a “good friend and neighbour”.
Mrs Hammond said Miss Walker used to work as a cleaner in the village and in a local bar, and that Miss Walker’s daughters used to come to stay at her house for sleepovers.
She added: “It’s shocking. Me and my husband would never condemn anyone starting a new life, but you don’t leave your child behind.”
Mrs Hammond said Miss Walker was a mother of five, but only two daughters lived with her. She said Miss Walker loved travelling to Turkey and had visited the same resort for many years.
She said she had been there earlier this summer and returned to the UK for a short time before leaving again two weeks ago.
“She did say she liked it, and everyone in the village jokingly said to her: ‘Don’t you think you might move there?’ She just said she liked the place and the people.
“Whenever she used to come back, she always used to say that she had a lovely time there and she would go again.”
Mrs Hammond said she had heard rumours that her neighbour had met a new man in the Turkish resort and that that was a possible motive for her wanting to stay there.
“I’m just disappointed with her. You just don’t leave your child behind. It’s just not responsible at all. I don’t think she could return to the village now. She must have a conscience. People wouldn’t know what to say to her if they met her in the village.”
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The police are in consultation with social services about this case but it’s still too early to say what action, if any, the police will be taking. One thing is we do not have any plans at this time to send officers to Turkey. Our main concern is the welfare of the 15-year-old girl.”
Derek Law, corporate director for social services with North Yorkshire County Council, said: “We can confirm that we are working with the police on this case to try and resolve it in a satisfactory way.
“As in all cases the security and safety of this child is our priority.”
Mr Law said the teenager was coping well.
He said: “Since becoming involved in this case, and working closely with North Yorkshire Police, social services in North Yorkshire have maintained that their principle priority is the security and safety of this teenager.
“She is the victim of a situation completely beyond her control and in the circumstances she is coping remarkably well.
“While this particular situation has attracted a great deal of media attention, it is not uncommon. Social services across the country regularly have to deal with children who, for one reason or another, have been abandoned by their parents.”
