OF HER PLIGHT IN MAIL INVESTIGATION
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difficult for us all – and we broke off contact.
“She was always in my thoughts and, when I remarried, I told my new wife Jennifer that I would love to rebuild the bond with Michelle.
“I was unable to trace her and just got the occasional suggestion that she was somewhere in the Glasgow area.”
Michael said a member of his family contacted him last week after spotting the Sunday Mail story, prompting him to rush out to buy a copy.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it. It’s not nice to find out your daughter is living on the streets.
“There were tears for sure – but it just made me all the more determined to try and rebuild our relationship.
“There are all sorts of challenges. I know there is a trust issue and we’ll have to try to rebuild that.
“I don’t expect things to just fall right into place – I know it’ll be difficult.”
Michelle is a fixture in Glasgow, sitting on the pavement knitting blankets and scarves, a skill she learned in prison.
She said: “Since my story went in the paper I’ve had a lot of people coming up to me, wishing me well – and giving me balls of wool. People have been kind and I appreciate that. I’ve balls of wool coming out of my ears.
“I might try to start doing my knitting more seriously – it could become a wee business for me, which would be a start.
“I recognised my dad when he came up to me, even though I hadn’t seen him for years. We’ll see where things go from here and it means a lot to know he’s here for me.”
Michelle has told of the abuse she gets while begging – including being badgered by “dirty old men” for sex. She said she felt as if she was “stuck on the streets”.
She spoke out as part of the Mail investigation into attitudes towards those begging on the streets.
And she hit out at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief Stuart Patrick’s comments about beggars driving away shoppers.
She said: “Anyone who criticises the homeless should come and be with us for a few hours and listen to the abuse we get.”
She added: “I didn’t grow up wanting to be a beggar. I wanted to be a vet.
“I dream about going to college and becoming a photographer.
“But I know there is no quick fix for the problem of begg ing and homelessness.”