Desperate Portsmouth mum Lacey Plato's launches petition to reunite her with her children

Lacey Plato’s seven-year-old son, Faris and 10-year-old daughter, Aishah were abducted from their Portsmouth home by their father Usama Al-Barwani in 2012.

Al-Barwni is in jail in the UK after returning to Britain and continuing to defy a High Court order to return the children, who are now being cared for by relatives in Oman.

Now, desperate Lacey has called on the public to back her campaign urging the government to step in.

So far she already has more than 5,100 signatures – but her online plea needs at least 10,000 to be considered by politicians and 100,000 to be debated in the Commons.

In a message on the petition’s page, Lacey said: ‘Three years ago my children, Aishah, 10, and Faris, seven, were abducted by their father and taken to Oman.

‘He has since been arrested and imprisoned here, yet his family still refuse to return them to me.

‘I have had no contact with them for 11 months.

‘They deserve to be raised by their mother who loves them.’

Lacey has until April 19 to reach the deadline.

To help her, visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110453 and use ‘#justice4lacey’ on Twitter.