Mother loses custody (From Stroud News and Journal)

Mother loses custody

A BRIMSCOMBE mother has lost her legal battle to win back her young daughter, who was snatched and taken to Spain six months ago.

A Spanish court dismissed Tracy Low's application for the return of her five-year-old daughter Lucy, ruling she should remain with her father David Latham at their home in Mazarron Murica, southern Spain.

Tracy who flew out to Spain to see her little girl for the first time since she was taken by ber father said: "They didn't even give me a fighting chance. They only gave me two days notice to get out there and I hadn't got that sort of money. It's very disappointing. Nobody has given me the chance to fight for her."

The court has warned Tracy that any appeal lodged by her is likely to be unsuccessful.

The 37-year-old returned this month from a week-long trip to Spain where she spent precious time with Lucy.

The little girl was abducted from Gloucester by Mr Latham in November last year. Speaking of her reunion with Lucy, she said: "When I saw her at the airport it was such a relief. I cried and held her and wouldn't let her go."

The flight out to see Lucy was paid for by Mr Latham, an ex-bank manager and magistrate, and Tracy believes his generosity was a ploy to lure her back.

"He paid for my flight so he could talk me into going back to him," she said.

"I love my daughter very much but I could never forgive what he did."

Tracy's lawyers have urged her to return to live in Spain, even temporarily, in a bid to bolster her case for custody in the event of any appeal.

But Tracy has vowed to keep up the fight from this country.

"He keeps threatening me to go back and says if I don't I will never see Lucy again but he is breaking the law and getting away with it," said Tracy.

"Lucy has told me she wants to live with me and has begged me not to stop fighting for her and I won't."