Mother runs away with son to prevent him receiving cancer treatment In a hearing yesterday, lawyers for the NHS, Devon County Council and for those tasked with looking after the boy's interests agreed his disappearance should be made public. "I have made an order permitting the identification of the child, Neon Luca Roberts, who is aged seven," said the judge. It's thought that he is need of urgent life-saving hospital treatment. He suffers from a brain tumour and has recently had surgery and the doctors responsible for his treatment believe he urgently needs radiotherapy. His mother, Mrs Sally Roberts, who is also known as Sally Lees, is opposed to the treatment and has disappeared with Neon. She was last seen in Devon on Sunday. Her family have had no contact with her for several days and are very concerned for her and Neon. The doctors say that, unless treatment is started next week, the prospects of Neon's surviving are dramatically reduced. The judge said he was appealing for the help of the public in looking for 'this very sick little boy.' The court also ordered an urgent hearing to take place on Friday "I hope very much that Mrs Roberts will make contact with her solicitors and the court as soon as possible," he added. As I say, there is an urgent hearing fixed for Friday this week, where she will be able to put her case before any decision about treatment is given. I can only urge her to come forward. I am deeply concerned for the welfare and well-being of this little boy. The courts are used as a last resort to decide what kind of medical treatment a child should have if the parents disagree about it. In 2003 two girls were ordered by the High Court to have the MMR vaccine despite the vehement opposition of their mothers. The mothers had vehemently disagreed with having the vaccine that had been linked to autism but the fathers of the children had been in favour. After hearing the evidence the High Court ordered the jab to be administered. Mr Justice Sumner said that, ordinarily, it was up to parents to decide whether or not their children were immunised, but because they held opposing views, he had to do what he considered best for the children.