'He screamed and resisted': Woman who grew up in Ipswich fights for safe return of son allegedly abducted in Indonesia

Why it matters: Kathryn Dench holds full legal custody of the child through a binding Indonesian civil court decision. According to her legal team, the investigation has "progressed with alarming slowness."

What happened: On Monday, 21 April 2025, at approximately 18:11 Central Indonesian Time, the child was outside his residence in Serangan, South Denpasar, when two men allegedly approached and forcibly took him. A neighbouring coffee shop owner witnessed the incident and said the child "screamed and resisted but was forcibly placed in a vehicle and driven away."

CCTV footage shows the vehicle had been stationed at the location since approximately 16:30, indicating premeditation, according to the child's mother. Ms Dench said she immediately responded to her son's cries but was unable to prevent him from being taken.

The investigation: A formal police report was filed the same evening under Article 330 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. Six hours after the alleged abduction, Benjamin Buckley, a British citizen, the child's biological father and Ms Dench's ex-boyfriend, was said to have contacted her via email, admitting he had taken the child.

Police investigations later indicated the child was taken on a domestic flight to Jakarta the same evening.

Current situation: Since the alleged abduction, Ms Dench has been permitted only six video calls with her son. According to the source material, during these interactions, the child "appeared psychologically distressed, as clearly reflected in his facial expressions and emotional demeanour." She stated that as of 4 July 2025, all further communication has been refused.

Legal background: Ms Dench holds full custody of the child pursuant to a binding civil court decision, upheld through all appellate stages including Judicial Review. During proceedings, Mr Buckley was granted access but consistently failed to appear and is said to have never contributed financially to the child's care.

What's next: Ms Dench and her lawyers have lodged formal complaints with the Indonesian Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection. They have also filed a report with Bali Regional Police regarding suspected child neglect. According to her legal team, since his removal from his home, the child has no longer been attending school.

The bottom line: According to Ms Dench's lawyers, this case constitutes "a clear and serious case of child abduction, carried out in violation of a binding Indonesian court ruling."