WOMAN ON THE RUN FOR CHILD CRUELTY FLEEING TO TENERIFE
A woman identified as Raychel Hardingham, aged 29, went on the run after she was charged with child cruelty following an incident where her and her child fell from a moving car.The fall occurred opposite a Shell petrol station in Taverham at 9.54pm on April 21, 2023.
The child sustained minor injuries, while Ms Hardingham herself suffered what was described as life-changing injuries.
She was charged with assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, and abandoning a child to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.
However, she failed to appear at Norwich Magistrate’s Court, leading to a police manhunt.
It was later revealed that she had fled to Tenerife, where she had been enjoying the sun and warm weather for several months.
Ms Hardingham explained to the Eastern Daily Press that she feared for her safety back in England, citing threats and the impact on her mental health, preventing her from returning.
She stated: ‘I have had to come to Spain because I fear for my safety back home.
I have had threats.
My mental health is bad and my address is in the public domain because of the case.
So I can’t go home.
I did not want to come here but until I can put measures in place to protect myself in England I will have to stay here.’ The police are working to return her to the UK.
The charges against her were made on June 13, 2024, but she failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued on September 3, 2024.
Officers reportedly spoke with her in November 2024, confirming she was in Tenerife, and efforts are ongoing to bring her back to the UK.
