Alfie is clinging to me because he’s so worried I’ll leave again. Never, never, never – Leigha Collins

Leigha said Alfie’s eyes “turned as big as saucers” when he saw his mummy for the first time in a year.

She said: “I saw him peeping out from behind the curtains as I drew up and his face was a picture. When I opened the door and picked him up to give him the biggest hug, his eyes were as big as saucers and he was giggling and squealing with laughter.

“He couldn’t believe he could actually touch my face and my hair instead of having to see me through the tiny screen on a mobile phone.

“He’s been clinging to me ever since, I can’t even get to the bathroom without him he’s so worried that I’ll go away again. That will never, never happen.

“I’ve had to explain to him that I’m home to stay, but he’s not even three-years-old until next week, so it’s difficult for him to take in why I had to go away at all.

“I was very worried he’d forget me, and it was really getting me down the longer I was away from him.

“But he’s clearly just delighted to be able to cuddle me, and I’m hoping the clinginess will be the only side effect of being forced apart.”

Leigha said there were times she truly believed she could end up in a Maltese prison for trying to protect her baby. She said: “It was like I was the enemy when in fact I was trying to make sure Hayes was not put at any risk. I didn’t refuse to let Kyle see him, but I was determined not to let him take Hayes away unless I was happy he hadn’t been taking drugs.

“The police were awful. It’s not pleasant having armed officers at your door but I was determined to keep my baby safe at all times.

“I was shocked to discover there were other mums stranded in Malta too because of the Hague Convention, and many of them had been there for years on end with no hope of getting home.

“I reckon I’m very lucky my ordeal lasted a year when I compare with the length of time some of the others have been stuck there. That’s why I’m so determined to do everything I can to change the system for the better.

“No mum would want to flee from her home with two small children, unless there is a very good reason. But the court simply did not want to listen to me, and many others have told me they had the same experience.

“It’s clear the whole process is not working.”