The tug of love for Tariq
£1990: Sarra Fotheringham begins relationship with Rashid Al Habtoor in Dubai.
? Sarra falls pregnant but, she claims, Mr Al Habtoor declares he wants nothing to do with baby. Sarra returns to UK.
? April 1991: Tariq is born.
? 1994: Sarra marries Neil Fotheringham.
? 1995: Neil adopts Tariq.
? 1998: Sarra contacts Mr Al Habtoor about their son. He claims she had not told him about Tariq until now.
? 1999: Mr Al Habtoor meets Sarra and Tariq in London. Family head, Khalaf, invites Sarra to Dubai and offers Neil job as PE teacher.
? December 1999: Arrangement does not work out and Fotheringhams decide to return to Britain. Sarra signs agreement relinquishing parental responsibility and Mr Al Habtoor keeps his son. She says she was told this was the only way to get her husband's passport back. Couple begin legal action to get Tariq back.
? January 2000: High Court judge declares Tariq is being unlawfully detained in Dubai and orders his immediate release.
? February 2001: Mr Al Habtoor goes to Appeal Court, where judge says he has obtained a custody order from the Arab court only after making "a number of serious mis-statements of fact", including the claim that he was married to Mrs Fotheringham. However, court concedes jurisdiction to the Arab judiciary.
? May 2001: Fotheringhams fail to take case to the House of Lords.
