Neon Roberts has a brain tumour but his mother stopped him from having radiotherapy in a battle of love and science The medical landscape had changed, said the judge. Nature is no respecter of court timetables. Mr Justice Bodey did not give any details of the change, but it had been said in court the previous day that Neon was undergoing new hospital scans. A malignant tumour was removed from his cerebellum, just above the neck, in October. The case was adjourned until December 18. Neon's father, Ben Roberts, left quickly without making any comment. The 34-year-old IT consultant from west London has said he is willing to follow medical advice that Neon needs radiotherapy now, in order to save his life. But Mr Roberts is concerned about the risks, and has also said he will support his estranged wife if she proves her case. The couple no longer live together, but they remain friends. Consent for treatment must come from both parents. Sally Roberts accepts that Neon should have chemotherapy to improve his chances of survival after the surgery, but does not want her son to have radiotherapy unless doctors can convince her it is absolutely essential. She fears possible side effects including strokes, restricted growth, impotence and a reduced IQ. Describing Neon as "vibrant and healthy" with strong artistic talents, she said in court on Friday: "He is not a sick boy, as has been written about him. I feel that if we go ahead with the radiotherapy we could be depriving him of his talents. Mrs Roberts said in an interview with a newspaper yesterday: "The doctor said he would need radiotherapy across all his brain. When I questioned why they couldn't target only the area where the tumour was, he replied: 'You have to fry the whole brain."" Yesterday, Mrs Roberts stood in the sunshine outside the otherwise empty Royal Courts of Justice after the hearing and told reporters: "Thank you for all your interest in the case and for all your support. There is nothing else I want to say except what the judge has already said. Asked how Neon was, she said: "He is good, he's very good in himself. We will speak about it early next week. I think next week will be better. The 37-year-old was born in New Zealand but came to Britain in 1999 to study sound engineering. She met Ben Roberts the following year, and gave birth to twins - Neon and his sister Elektra - in 2005. The couple were married in 2009, but separated two years later. Neon began suffering headaches and a swollen neck during the summer. A brain scan in October showed the tumour. After nine hours in surgery, a scan suggested the tumour had all gone. Doctors at two NHS trusts, which cannot be named for legal reasons, said Neon should undergo radiotherapy as well as chemotherapy in order to increase his chances of survival. Mrs Roberts was reluctant and began researching alternatives, but felt she was being forced into giving consent. I didn't feel Neon was being treated as an individual, but that the medical advice I was getting was based on a blanket policy. Eight days ago, the two NHS trusts sought an emergency court order compelling Mrs Roberts to bring Neon in for treatment, after she had missed two appointments. She became convinced that the authorities would seize her son. "They wanted to take him away so they could give him the radiotherapy," she was reported as saying yesterday. I was convinced the police were going to knock on my door looking for Neon, and I wasn't going to let that happen, So she took the boy to East Grinstead in Sussex, to stay with a friend who offers oxygen therapy to people with brain injuries. She did not tell her husband or anyone else where they were. When Mrs Roberts failed to turn up for hearings at the High Court on Tuesday or Wednesday, the judge lifted restrictions on court reporting to help the police look for her and her son. A nationwide search ensued. It ended, according to her own account yesterday, with the police banging on her bedroom door at two o'clock on Thursday morning. There were about four officers outside, shining a torch in my face. Neon was asleep, but I had to wake him and leave. After being examined at a local hospital, Neon was returned to his father at his Knightsbridge home. Appearing at the High Court on Friday, she said she was sorry for going on the run. I very much apologise for not being here. I panicked, but I only want the best for my son and I felt [I had] no other choice. She said: "He has an incredible sense of humour. [He is] vibrant, healthy and it has been made out that he is sick and this is not the truth. As she gave evidence, Neon was at hospital with his father, having scans. A text message from Mr Roberts was read out in court, saying: "Obviously I am concerned about side effects and slightly apprehensive about radiotherapy. If Sally produces sufficient evidence that radiotherapy is not a necessity then I am happy to support her. However, a paediatric oncologist who was referred to in court as Dr A said it would be "unethical" to treat Neon with chemotherapy alone, as that was "non-proven and unorthodox." The chances of such a patient surviving for five years was 80 per cent if he had radiotherapy, but only 35 per cent if he didn't. "I believe we should treat on the best evidence," said Dr A. "This treatment is backed up by national guidance, and I don't deviate from the national guidance." Mr Justice Bodey preferred not to comment on Mrs Roberts's disappearance, but he did say on Friday: "What you had to go through is the stuff of every parent's nightmare. It continues to do so, as doctors and parents disagree about what is best for Neon. The High Court will consider the case again in nine days" time - unless nature has other ideas.