British mother who tried to cross the Channel with her two children in dinghy avoids jail 

British lesbian mother, 33, who snatched her two children to go on the run with sperm donor but was caught when she washed up on Jersey in inflatable dinghy avoids jail

  • Lauren Etchells went on the run with her children and tried to cross the Channel
  • Was on the run for three years after fleeing Canada after ending a relationship 
  • 33-year-old was today given a six month prison sentence, suspended for a year

A lesbian British mother who went on the run with her two children and tried to cross the Channel with them in a rubber dinghy was today given a six-month prison sentence suspended for a year.

Lauren Etchells, 33, was also fined £500 for lying to immigration officials and ordered to pay £1600 court costs after being convicted of child neglect at an earlier hearing in St Helier, Jersey.

Her parents Brian and Angela, who faced the same child neglect charges, were given an identical sentence and fine.

Lauren Etchells, 33, was also fined £500 for lying to immigration officials and ordered to pay £1600 court costs

Angela and Brian Etchells arrive at Jersey Magistrates' Court in St Helier, Jersey, for their sentencing for child neglect

Angela and Brian Etchells arrive at Jersey Magistrates’ Court in St Helier, Jersey, for their sentencing for child neglect

Lauren Etchells, left, and Tasha Brown are pictured together above in June 2015

Lauren Etchells, left, and Tasha Brown are pictured together above in June 2015

Etchells did not speak during the sentencing at St Helier Magistrates court but her legal team indicated they would immediately appeal the conviction.

It means she will stay in Jersey for the forseable future as any return to the UK would lead to her arrest on child abduction charges filed by her ex-wife in Canada.

Etchells was convicted of two charges of causing risk of harm to her children.

She earlier admitted immigration offences of providing false information when she beached her dinghy on a Jersey beach.

After years in Spain, she was arrested in July after making the Channel crossing in a 13ft inflatable dinghy (pictured) with her children and her parents

After years in Spain, she was arrested in July after making the Channel crossing in a 13ft inflatable dinghy (pictured) with her children and her parents

The former teacher had been on the run for three years after fleeing Canada following the end of her relationship with Tasha Brown.

She fled with her daughter Kaydance, now aged four, and her one-year old son from a sperm donor who became her boyfriend. 

Lauren Etchells, 33, (pictured with ex Tasha Brown and Kaydence) triggered an international manhunt when she left her wife in Canada and took her son and daughter to start a new life with her 'sperm donor', who fathered one of them

Lauren Etchells, 33, (pictured with ex Tasha Brown and Kaydence) triggered an international manhunt when she left her wife in Canada and took her son and daughter to start a new life with her ‘sperm donor’, who fathered one of them

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