A Father's Daughter: 2nd Edition: A Father's Daughter, #1

By Stephen Bradley-Waters

Originally released in 2019, this 2023, revised 2nd edition replaces the original book with improved grammar, formatting, and story-telling. The original was my first book as an author; however, since releasing 'A Father's Daughter', I authored more books, which were better written, and 'A Father's Daughter', deserved to be upgraded to do it justice. The story is emotional, traumatising, uplifting, and involves a roller-coaster of emotions, and it is one of my best books.
- Stephen Bradley-Waters

'The story is beautifully written.... one of love between a father and daughter. No matter the struggle, the father continued to battle everything to get his child back to the life she loved... I recommend this book to everyone. It's in my top 5 reads.' - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this heartbreaking true story, the abduction of his daughter has a father on an emotional and difficult journey through Family Court in pursuit of justice. The battle is bitter and brutal, with the child stuck in the middle of a heartless and inept UK legal system. Constant and baseless accusations from the mother further derail proceedings, causing delays and torment for their daughter. This story is about courage, angst, perseverance, selfishness, love, and pain.

Two sides rival for the residency of their daughter. One trying to bring her back home to the life she adores. The other is starting a new life in an unfamiliar location many miles away from family and friends.

Readers are passionate about A Father's Daughter:

'A book that takes you on a heartfelt journey that only a parent can imagine... the only important thing to the author is seeing his daughter be happy... would definitely recommend.' - Amazon UK reviewer, 5 stars

'A Father's love is a mighty thing... This is a story of a father fighting the world for his daughter. It's traumatic and sad to see the story plan out... A great read' - Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

'While reading this detailed memoir I felt as though I was right there as the events unfolded... Blindsided and accused Stephen never loses hope' - Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars

'This is a true story, straight from the heart... It was interesting to hear the story from the dad's point of view... He is simply a doting dad who wants what is best, both practically and emotionally for his child and is prepared to sacrifice his own quality of life to achieve this... To anyone experiencing a similar situation, whether male or female, I would definitely recommend you read this.' - Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars

'A truly tear-jerking insight into the authors' life' - Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen Bradley-Waters
• Release date: Feb 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224750528

Book preview

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Writing this book has been an emotional journey—my first foray into professional writing and a life goal fulfilled; however, I would rather not have this story to tell. Reliving the past and opening old wounds have been tormenting. Yet, I felt compelled to share this massive event in my life, as this book will make telling my story easier, rather than continuously repeating myself.

Some chapters were more challenging than others to relive. I often found myself on a sound momentum of writing with everything coming thick and fast, but then there were moments I didn’t want to remember; I didn’t want to face again. So, I left the book for weeks at a time, and in one instance, I didn’t come back to writing for over a month. But it meant too much to me not to finish, so eventually, I sat down and wrestled with my demons to get this story told.

As a strange coincidence, I finished writing A Father’s Daughter on Father’s Day 2019. This is a moment in my life that I would like to leave behind, forget, move on, and never look back, but the mind won’t allow that, as too much happened. These moments will forever be a significant part of my life. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would endure such turmoil, appear before a judge and fight for my life in court.

I’m proud of my efforts in and out of court and finding the grit and willpower to finish writing this book. Something that started with a simple blank page became one of my most significant accomplishments. I dared to be brave and reach for the stars, but it wasn’t easy, and nothing worth achieving is. I pour my heart out, sharing a moment in my history at a time of courage and struggle, fighting for someone I cherish—my daughter. 

I had to recreate events, locales, and conversations from my memories of them. To maintain their anonymity in some instances, I changed the names of individuals and places. I also changed some identifying characteristics and details, such as physical properties, occupations, and places of residence.

This book is in no way a personal attack on anyone. I despise the way news outlets report stories as they destroy people’s personal lives and identities. My ex-partner and I have issues, but I wouldn’t want her to be personally identified and judged.

I’m okay with being judged, as it was my choice to tell my story and identity, but there’s no need to identify people to tell a story. All that matters is what happened. The people involved are irrelevant. The balancing act of telling our stories whilst not negatively affecting those involved is complicated, but I’ve done my best to mitigate those risks.

COURT

Family Courts in the UK are suffering from an unprecedented number of superficial claims of abuse against innocent people for someone’s sole purpose of gaining free public funding (legal aid) towards their legal costs. Meanwhile, the other person faces an uphill battle for justice at an incredible loss in the tens of thousands of pounds while having their character tainted as an abuser. 

Before 2013, legal aid was available to low-income applicants. The law changed, limiting legal assistance only to abuse victims, which increased claims of this nature.

There are many failures within the present legal system, which has far-reaching consequences for innocent people not involved in the legal proceedings. Places in refuge accommodation are limited. Genuine abuse victims struggle to find a way out of their traumatic situations as the space they so desperately need within a refuge gets occupied by many false victims. 

As it currently stands, anyone can claim to be in an abusive relationship and get protection from various agencies such as Women’s Aid, support them with placement in a refuge, apply for and endorse a claim for legal aid, fast track to housing and a grant to furnish the property. There’s a lot to gain in claiming abuse.

INTRODUCTION

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Finally, arriving home after the drive south from the gusty north-west was a huge relief. The journey had been long and exhausting—more than 200 miles of treacherous, dimly lit roads. The night sky consumed everything in its wake, reducing visibility to just the car lights in front. Now and then, a speeding car would overtake in the outside lane, providing some respite from the darkness with a sudden glimmer of light, disappearing just as fast as it came. The drive was a grind with so many thoughts racing through my mind. The road just went on and on with no end in sight, and my mind was consumed in deep thought, dissecting everything that had happened earlier that day.

With the flick of a switch, the headlights powered off—a journey complete. Arriving alone didn’t feel right, as something was missing. Walking along the path to my home was a lonely and isolating experience. Entering the flat didn’t feel any better. An empty kids’ bedroom was ominously missing a child—a room waiting and wanting company. Toys ready to be played with, TV prepared to show a movie—everything awaited her. Today, I feel just as empty as the room itself. All hope faded away. It wasn’t the welcome home I had expected: it was a day to forget.

It had taken eighteen months to get to this moment—a shocking amount of time, considering the situation’s urgency. I have much to understand and comprehend. A lot has happened with no time to take it all in. This book is a documentation of everything that has transpired.

1 

THE BEGINNING

From an early age, I knew that becoming a father was incredibly important. Deep down, I’m sure my father abandoning me as a child was the catalyst. Mum went on to marry Michael, who had three boys. add this to the four children already in our family. We now totalled seven children, two girls and five boys. He would become an incredible role model—someone to admire and be inspired by. My stepdad placed family above everything, teaching all of us to stick together and be there for one another. He led by example. Always available for anything any of us ever needed. 

It’s corny to say that if I become half the man he was, I would count myself lucky. However, that is so true. Not only did he inspire me, but all my siblings, our children, and their children. We lost him to a long battle with cancer months into my daughter’s abduction, and he contributed significantly towards the legal costs in my pursuit to bring her home. The family remained his absolute priority even in the last moments of his life. A large attendance of people mourning him at his funeral demonstrated the respect so many people had for him—an unassuming hero.

Casey kept so many secrets from friends and family. She suffers severely with her mental health and is diagnosed with depression, severe anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder—a cocktail of issues culminating in dangerous circumstances. Every day was unique, sometimes good though other times bad. She hid a lot of her feelings behind a fake smile. Most people wouldn’t see the suffering, but I could always tell the difference between a happy and sad Casey. She is vulnerable and requires plenty of support and guidance. The depression makes her moods low and fragile. The anxiety makes her impulsive and dangerous, and the OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) adds to her frustrations, which can be the catalyst that pushes her over the edge.

I had supported Casey throughout our relationship. As the years went on, Casey’s mood fluctuated severely up and down. I cared for her and encouraged the best I could. However, the weight of responsibility and burden eventually took a toll on me. Life became a roadblock with no possibility of having a career, as I felt responsible for her. I didn’t resent Casey; she meant the world to me, but something was missing in my life.

I am ambitious and dream of being successful to fulfil my potential and be an inspiration to my daughter, Jessie. It wasn’t a regrettable sacrifice to not pursue my dreams as, in many ways, I was already living the best part of that dream. My absolute priority was spending time with my family and ensuring they were all safe and cared for.

At thirty-four years old, the most challenging moments of my life were to come. While the next two years were exhausting for many reasons, 2017 was the worst year of my life. In 2015, Casey and I suffered an eviction from our privately rented home as the landlord wanted to sell the property. We tried in vain to contest the eviction through the court, and whilst we were successful in delaying the outcome, it was inevitable for us to leave eventually.

As the new year began, we had no choice but to reside with the children at my parents’ small bungalow. With limited rooms and space, the only option was to sleep behind the sofa. It wasn’t comfortable and challenging for all parties. Casey took this especially hard as her family wouldn’t accommodate her or the children. She craved the freedom we had once cherished by living on our own. There were more issues she contended with, though that’s not for now. We endured this living arrangement for nine months. 

Eventually, we found somewhere new to live in the autumn of 2015. The local council provided us with accommodation after a lengthy application process. Initially, Casey surprised me by refusing to accept the new property. The property had a no-dogs policy, which Casey declined. I’m not heartless; I also adored our pets, but the children’s lives were more important. It would be worth the sacrifice if we let the pets go to a new home.

I felt that Casey placed the animals above the children. They loved the dogs, too, but time heals, and they would’ve been fine. I had no choice but to speak with the housing manager at the council to try in vain to get permission to keep our pets. I explained Casey’s mental health issues and attachment to the animals to help sway the situation in our favour.

I negotiated a positive outcome with the manager. They permitted us to have two dogs, but that was the absolute limit. We needed to re-home one of them. I felt delighted and victorious; however, my upbeat mood quickly turned to the worst when I explained everything to Casey. She was adamant that she wouldn’t go without all the dogs. 

I couldn’t believe what I heard—selfishness without any care for the children. They don’t have any personal space or a room of their own. They must have their own home. Animals don’t live as long as people and soon get attached to new families. I couldn’t get her to see common sense. She was adamant that the dogs were too important. It was shocking to witness. Without going into too much detail, she had become a danger to herself as she couldn’t cope with the current living situation. I knew her mind was fragile and delicate. So, we needed a home so she could recover and gain a positive outlook on life. 

We accepted the property but had to ensure we kept one dog hidden. It was more hassle than it’s worth and didn’t help settling into our new home. We were constantly nervous about getting caught. By not re-homing one of the dogs, we violated the tenancy terms. If found to be in breach, we would’ve faced eviction. I wasn’t happy with the situation, but I had to support Casey.

The children were delighted, and we made the new place feel like home. For a while, we were all satisfied and contemplated a positive future. But Casey’s mood soon dropped. Her desires failed to align with those of my own. I tried to accommodate and support everything she wanted. Over time, my efforts weren’t enough for her. In reality, it never was—merely delaying the inevitable. 

Casey had a history of becoming bored with people and her surroundings. Relationships were often short-lived and fleeting. She would find the ending of relationships difficult, often fleeing many miles away. Before our courtship, her daughter, Emma, had been left in the care of her grandparents for three months and had no contact with her father. This shocked them as she was only supposed to go for a weekend. It’s this impulsive and selfish behaviour which scares me the most. She has done it before, and it’s happening again!   

2

JESSIE

At the age of seven, Jessie’s birth feels so long ago. The little things remain locked into memory like time capsules, though the details surrounding those events fade into the distance. Taking her home from the hospital for the first time was exciting and nerve-wracking. Knowing how delicate she is and feeling a sense of protecting her in a bubble to shield her from the world still resonates today. 

As an overly protective parent, she knew to hold my hand as we walked along the street and through crowds of people. The thought of anything happening to this precious angel bear not contemplating. Of course, as she gets older, the urge to protect will be outweighed by the necessity to provide her with the freedom to explore and develop her individuality. 

The balance and transition won’t be as smooth as one would prefer and, of course, not of one’s choosing. Two parents have a say in her upbringing, and there are also Jessie’s wishes to consider—a fact I expect to hear all too often as she reaches adolescence. A possible rebellion may be in the offing.

An infectious smile compliments her adorable and charming personality—free-spirited, full of joy and playfulness. She is both funny and compassionate. She doesn’t like to see other people suffering and feels a sense of protectiveness to younger, more vulnerable children. She is approachable without arrogance—an impressive upgrade from both mother and father. 

Almost all parents feel a sense of adjuration and love for their children, and if they didn’t, that would be rather worrying. I will love my daughter through any flaws and mishaps that may occur, though I feel I got fortunate and hit the jackpot. 

Jessie is remarkable with her beauty, impeccable morals, and charm and, created in part by me, is even more peculiar. I have the singing voice of a donkey. Jessie has an angelic voice, which she could develop and who knows what the future will bring. Her personality has so many positive facets that the possibilities are endless.

I have fleeting moments of randomness with complete disregard for other people’s opinions on how my behaviour appears—a goofball which Jessie enjoys. Smiling from ear to ear, she makes me want to be that man-child, much like Peter Pan and whisk her off to Neverland. 

There are some moments when we are very much like that. In a field, we played sorcery with sticks as wands, casting spells upon each other and those around us as if we were characters from Harry Potter. Pretending to ride horses, we galloped and raced through wide-open fields, laughing joyfully. These moments happen, and they aren’t in made-up stories. The world around us can be rather unforgiving, but it’s essential to take the time to have fun and transcend reality, if only for a short while. 

3

ABDUCTION

April 24, 2017, became a day etched into memory. It was to be the worst day of my life. I spent the night alone while Jessie and her half-sister had a sleepover with their mother at their grandparents’ home. The relationship between Casey and I had been in severe decline for many months. The strain of being in proximity to one another became a cause of irritation.

After almost eight years of living together, life had become monotonous; the past few weeks had been fractious, with heated arguments about our living arrangements, family and petty differences. I awoke early at 6.30 a.m. My initial thought was Jessie. Spending a night away from her wasn’t easy as we were rarely apart. I remembered that the DVDs were in her school bag. A text message was sent to Casey, reminding her to remove the movies before Jessie leaves for school.  

Me: Don’t forget to take the DVDs from Jessie’s bag.

A further message was sent at 9:45 a.m.

Me: Did they get to school, OK?

Casey immediately responded.

Casey: Yes, they are at school :)

The children were due to spend two nights at their grandparents’ home to provide Casey and me time apart. We had agreed the previous day that I would call to speak to the children at 6 p.m. each evening. Sunday hadn’t gone according to plan. Phone calls were unresponsive, which was a cause of frustration. The call finally connected two hours later than agreed, and I had a short conversation with Jessie. It was evident that she was having a movie night and enjoying the change of environment, though she was slightly missing home.  

I reluctantly decided not to have a conversation with Emma. Over the past few weeks, it had become distant and rude. Jessie remained with me when Casey absconded weekends, but Emma stayed with the grandparents, much to my protests. I saw no benefit in speaking while she was in their care as they heavily influenced her.

Tonight, we remain apart as arranged one more time before she is due to return home. I decided to call earlier as it may be easier to speak to Jessie after school as opposed to a busy evening. Over four hours of phone call attempts went unanswered. Confused, I couldn’t understand why there was no response. I sent text messages between phone calls, hoping it would prompt a response.

The following message was sent at 4.38 p.m.

Me: Can you call me when Jessie’s free to chat so I can hear how her days been.

A few minutes later, another message was sent.

Me: Tried phoning but appears as though your phone is off.

A final message was sent at 5.54 p.m., providing an intended time to call.

Me: I’ll phone again at 7 as planned, figured would’ve been easier for her to speak earlier.

I was bewildered by the lack of response from Casey. She was obsessed with her phone, so she should’ve been able to read the messages and notice the calls. It didn’t make sense that she was ignoring me. We were polite and amicable the previous day when Casey and the children left for their two-night stay-over at Casey’s parents. As Casey went, she was happy and said, Bye, see you soon, to which I responded, Have fun.

By 9 p.m., there was still no response. I was concerned as I knew how attached Casey was to her phone. If her phone battery needed charging, it would have finished by now. Perhaps she may have gone for a day out shopping, but I worried that something terrible may have happened.  

Concerned, I phoned my mother. I informed her that Casey wasn’t responding to my messages or calls. Mum was equally perplexed. I asked her to call Casey to see if there was a dial tone, as I wasn’t getting anything from my phone.  

The call ended so that my mum could attempt to call Casey. To my astonishment, she told me that she had heard a dial tone, but it stopped. Upon trying to reach her again, there was no connection. Evidently, she had blocked my number and now my mother’s. The big question was, why? I don’t obsessively message or call, so it’s unnecessary.

Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of dread and fear consumed me. It dawned on me that Casey had done it. She had taken our daughter!  

4

PSYCHIC

My life was in turmoil with uncertainty—an emotional mess consumed by dread and loss. Mum knew a few local psychics. She arranged for me to have a tarot reading with a lady named Sal at my parents’ home. I was sceptical, though I had an open mind.

The beauty of life is the unknown of what could happen next. It’s a mystery. For life to be planned out in advance would lose the thrill of living it and have the potential to be boring. I was at a crossroads, feeling lost—void of hope or understanding of my circumstances. There was no better time to know my future. 

As soon as the psychic reading commenced, it felt like Sal understood what I was going through without being told—immediately understanding my circumstances and the problems I endured. She emphasised, You are stuck without any control while everything is happening around you. 

I had never considered my current predicament that way, but it made perfect sense. Regardless of what I did, it made no difference to anything. That one comment stayed in my head for a long time and remains with me to this day. It gave me a sense of peace and tranquillity amongst the mayhem that ensued—realising that so much is beyond my control—allowing me to relax in moments when I otherwise would’ve been on edge and anxious.

It was evident to Sal that the current issue plighting me and causing distress was the ending of a relationship and separation from my daughter. It was a recent event, so I was shocked that she knew. Sal recognised that Casey had issues, stating that She’s not all there, a reference to being crazy. I confirmed that as correct. 

Sal was adamant that I would see Jessie soon. She couldn’t confirm when but was comfortable telling me it would happen. There were a lot of lies and deceit from Casey and her mother. She warned that I couldn’t afford to slip up even once. I had to be perfect throughout the proceedings; otherwise, everything would go against me, playing into their hands as they try to set me up as something I’m not.

She asked if I have the women solicitors or the