Trudy Crofts, who is accused of abducting her own daughters and leaving them with her new partner's family in Africa, refused to sign court documents instructing her acquaintances in Morocco to send the girls home.

An unimpressed High Court judge jailed her for contempt of court and accused her of trying to get in the way of the girls return to the UK.

Carene, 12, and Shelby, 11, were allegedly taken by their mother in August after she failed to regain custody of the children through the courts.

The girls had been cared for by their grandmother Rita Astbury, who was
their legal guardian for seven years until they were made wards of court on August 19.

The girls are today 1,400 miles away from their Milbourne Street home in central Blackpool.

Last week, senior judge, Mr Justice Dodds gave Crofts, 30, one last chance to sign documentation instructing the girls return or be in contempt.

By yesterday the documents remained unsigned so the judge, sitting at Liverpool High Court, issued a one-year jail term.

Mr Justice Dodd told Crofts: "In my assessment you have placed yourself not only outside of the law but above it in your thoughtless and selfish pursuit of getting your own way.

"On the balance of the information before me I think it is more likely you did issue directions from your prison cell that they (Carene and Shelby) were not to be handed over and placed yourself above the law.

"In this court roomon November 4 you refused to comply with the order of the court. Even in the face of your refusal I gave you another chance, seven days to reflect, but you have elected to continue to disobey, therefore placing yourself in contempt.

"I remain of the view that for you to achieve your own selfish ends, contrary to those of the children's grandmother, your mother, the views in the welfare report and contrary to the views of this court, you remain happy to expose your daughters to the risk of social, psychological and emotional damage."

For more on this story, see today's Gazette