Portugal considers extraditing abandoned baby couple
Portuguese authorities are considering whether to start extradition proceedings against a couple accused of abandoning their baby.
Katherine Penny, 24, and Mark Beddoes, 29, could be extradited for allegedly abandoning three-month-old Charles near Faro airport.
Mr Beddoes claims his girlfriend duped him into thinking the child had been placed in care in Portugal before they left.
Mr Beddoes told a British newspaper that as soon as he was told the truth he marched Miss Penny to the nearest police station.
He says he only agreed to have the baby taken into care because the couple were desperate for money, but he promised to return to Portugal to retrieve his son as soon as he had saved enough.
He said: "I want to go back for Charles and bring him back to Britain. I miss his smile and I'm so angry and upset about what's happened."
The couple have not been arrested in relation to the matter despite being questioned for several hours at Bournemouth police station.
But Ms Penny, from Basingstoke, Hants, was arrested on outstanding motoring offences and has appeared before the town's magistrates court.
The Foreign Office said baby Charles is described as "well" and is being looked after in a Portuguese orphanage.
A Home Office spokeswoman added: "The Portuguese authorities can make a request to the UK and we will deal with it on its merits."
