A civil engineer from Essex is desperately trying to find his son after his ex took off with him during a court battle.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ellie YarrowSanders, who has gone missing with her three-year-old son Olly Picture: PATRICK SHERIDAN/ PRESS ASSOCIATIONEllie YarrowSanders, who has gone missing with her three-year-old son Olly Picture: PATRICK SHERIDAN/ PRESS ASSOCIATION

Patrick Sheridan, 45, from Braintree, says he is enduring a “living nightmare” after his ex-girlfriend Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, 26, went missing with his son, three.

He has not seen the toddler for months and said: “We’re trying everything to find Olly but it is clear that extensive steps have been taken to conceal where he is.

“He’s been gone for months now and I miss him every single day.

“It’s just been a living nightmare no parent should have to go through and I’m sick with worry.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Three-year-old Olly Sheridan, who has gone missing with his mother Ellie YarrowSanders Picture: PATRICK SHERIDAN/ PRESS ASSOCIATIONThree-year-old Olly Sheridan, who has gone missing with his mother Ellie YarrowSanders Picture: PATRICK SHERIDAN/ PRESS ASSOCIATION

He added: “The run up to Christmas has been unbearable.”

Miss Yarrow-Sanders’ family has links with Kings Lynn, London and Norfolk.

In a simple message to his former partner, Mr Sheridan said: “Come back so that I can see Olly is OK.”

Miss Yarrow-Sanders vanished with Olly in July whilst her and Mr Sheridan were embroiled in a family court battle.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ellie YarrowSanders with her three-year-old son Olly Sheridan, who have gone missing Picture: PATRICK SHERIDAN/ PRESS ASSOCIATIONEllie YarrowSanders with her three-year-old son Olly Sheridan, who have gone missing Picture: PATRICK SHERIDAN/ PRESS ASSOCIATION

They vanished shortly before she was due to give evidence at a “critical” family court hearing in Chelmsford.

There is a belief that Miss Yarrow-Sanders may have taken the boy to Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

High Court judge Mr Justice Williams has also expressed grave concerns over Olly’s safety and has issued an appeal to find the toddler.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the judge decided to lift the ban on identifying family members related to the case in the hope that Olly could be found.

He also moved to make Olly a ward of court - placing responsibility for the child directly in a judge’s hands.

The judge further urged Miss Yarrow-Sanders to return Olly, saying that evidence showed that children who were abducted by parents suffered long-term emotional consequences.

Mr Sheridan is being represented by specialist lawyers from law firm Irwin Mitchell and Barrister Andrew Bagchi QC said all attempts to find the pair had proved fruitless.

He claims that Miss Yarrow- Sanders had defied judges’ orders to return Olly.