CONCERNS are growing for a mother and her five-year-old child missing from their Hampshire home for ten days.

Gabrielle Batola is currently fighting deportation proceedings to send her back to the Republic of Congo, having fled to the UK nearly seven years ago.

A last-ditch judicial review of her case is due to be heard next month after her lawyers claimed her human rights would be violated if she were to return to the civil war-ravaged country.

Last night, her solicitor told the Daily Echo she was deeply worried for her client, who she described as “unwell, traumatised and very distressed”.

Gang violence Gabrielle, 33, fled to Britain after being subjected to gang violence, and having been given temporary asylum set up home in Southampton, studying book keeping at university.

But Home Office officials rejected her application to stay permanently, saying there was nothing to suggest her life would be in danger if she returned to the Republic of Congo, which neighbours the Democratic Republic of Congo.

She was put on a flight home, but stayed in England after her lawyers gained an injunction following an incident on the plane.

Solicitor Naheed Ghauri said her client had been left “overwhelmed with stress” by the efforts to deport her.

“She has dramatically lost weight, and she is unwell, she’s traumatised and very distressed by the risk of future persecution,” she said.

“I’m asking immigration to give an assurance not to remove her, so at least there’s some reassurance for her.

“We’re urging her to get in touch with us and the authorities.”

Last October, Gabrielle, whose son Mathieu was the product of a brief relationship after first arriving in the UK, told the Daily Echo she feared the impact being forced out of Britain would have on the child.

“I do not want to uproot my son and our life here,” she said.

“I don’t think it would be safe for me to go back there. I wouldn’t know where to start.

“[Mathieu] would have to leave his friends and he does not speak French so would be lost.”

Southampton police last night appealed for help finding her said they are concerned for Gabrielle and Mathieu, who were last seen on January 7.

They are appealing for Gabrielle, or anyone who knows the pair’s whereabouts, to come forward by calling Southampton Central Police Station on 0845 045 4545, or going into any police station.