Amid the hustle of Victoria station, Marcela Alvarez watched anxiously as her six-year-old daughter grasped her father's hand.

She had never really trusted her estranged ex-husband and was more apprehensive than ever. This was the first time little Esmeralda would see her daddy unsupervised.

Marcela's heart pounded as she caught glimpses of Esmeralda's pink T-shirt, blue dungarees and colourful hair clasps bobbing through the human forest of tourists.

Eventually she disappeared from view. Mrs Alvarez reluctantly left the London station and walked straight into every mother's nightmare.

She would not see or even speak to her daughter again for almost five years.

Today Edgardo Alvarez faces jail after pleading guilty to abducting his daughter.

The plea ended a manhunt which stretched across two continents and half a dozen countries.

The 65-year-old former lecturer at Crawley College split from Mrs Alvarez in 1992 after three years of marriage.

Mrs Alvarez knew her husband could be unpredictable and even dangerous so she and Esmeralda moved to a women's refuge.

Over the years the couple's relationship began to improve and Alvarez was allowed supervised visits to see his daughter at his home in Bewbush.

But when Mrs Alvarez indicated her desire to leave England and return to be with her family in Mexico, something snapped.

Fearing he would lose his daughter for ever, Alvarez took his chance that day at Victoria station in July 1999 and snatched Esmeralda away.

Speaking in broken English and fighting back the tears, Mrs Alvarez, 43, said last night: "From the moment I lost Esmeralda I thought my life was over. I was so, so sad and felt total desperation. I felt broken inside."

Her pain was shared among her large family, most of whom still live in Mexico.

Mrs Alvarez's sister Laura, 35, gave up her bank job and sold her car to raise the money to fly to England and join the search. The two women embarked on an international media campaign to find Esmeralda.

Posters and leaflets were produced and sent to primary schools across Britain. Police stations throughout Europe were contacted. All British airports, ferry terminals and the London Underground were put on alert.

Each time they heard about a possible sighting Mrs Alvarez would leave the country, clinging to the slimmest of hopes, only to see them cruelly dashed.

Her frantic searches led to Paris, Vienna, Lisbon, Aberdeen, Ireland, various parts of Spain and Mexico City twice.

As the years went by Mrs Alvarez's health suffered. She now takes tablets for depression after becoming suicidal.

She said: "I just wanted to hear Esmeralda's voice, just to make sure she was okay. It was extremely frustrating because I don't speak very good English so it was very hard trying to explain the situation."

As Mrs Alvarez approached her fourth Christmas without her daughter she was almost at breaking point.

She said: "I couldn't face Christmas time alone so I would fly back to my family in Mexico. It was a very sad time.

"Then I got the phone call."

On the other end of the line was one of the two private detectives hired to help look for Esmeralda with news better than any present.

Mrs Alvarez said: "At first I could not believe it. One of my friends actually had to slap me and shout, 'Your daughter's coming home!' before it sank in. Then I began running up and down the stairs with joy. I was crying, my mother was crying, we were all so happy."

It took two long days for Mrs Alvarez to obtain the correct documents to travel from Mexico to the American state of Utah, where her husband and Esmeralda were found.

Nothing will erase the memory of that first, familiar yet strange sight of her now 11-year-old daughter's pretty face.

Mrs Alvarez said: "I met the detective at the airport and he drove to the house where she was staying. As we got out of the car I immediately spotted a girl looking out of the window and knew it was Esmeralda.

"I was told she was nervous because she couldn't remember me very well. When I opened the door I told her who I was, took her in my arms and held her for as long as possible.

"Then she took me into the kitchen and showed me a picture she had drawn. She had painted two hearts - one split into two and the other whole.

"Underneath she had written: 'My heart was broken for years and now my heart is happy'. It was so beautiful I cried and cried."

Mother and daughter slept in the same bed that night.

Mrs Alvarez said: "I couldn't sleep and I couldn't keep my eyes off Esmeralda. She looked so different - much taller with longer hair - but she was unmistakably my daughter."

Mrs Alvarez and Esmeralda flew back to England on Christmas Day.

She said: "The British Embassy was very kind and we flew first-class. Esmeralda loved it."

Since their return Esmeralda has started back at school and seems to be coping with a maturity beyond her years.

Mrs Alvarez said: "Obviously it has been very difficult as she had made a lot of friends in America and she misses them.

"She has had to start a new life and forget all the poisonous things my husband told her when they were together. But she's doing well at school and she's very responsible in getting her homework done."

Despite her seething anger over her husband's cruel actions, Mrs Alvarez does not feel vengeful. She wants to draw a line under those dark years and move on with her daughter.

Mrs Alvarez said: "I'd like to thank everyone who helped get Esmeralda back safe and well.

"The police here in Britain were all very nice and we have made friends across the world during the campaign.

"I will always be grateful to them all.

"I think we will stay in London for a few months but soon I hope to move back to Mexico so Esmeralda can grow up where she belongs - with her family."