The mother of a pregnant woman jailed for three months for trying to smuggle illegal immigrants has brought her granddaughter home to Sussex.
Marion Rowland, 54. of Uckfield, travelled to Boulogne in France yesterday to bring 15-year-old Danielle home.
Danielle spent Christmas Day in the care of French social services after her mother Sheena Tuckfield, 37, was arrested on Thursday.
Today Tuckfield, of Mottingham, south London, who is four months pregnant, was starting a three-month jail sentence.
She was found guilty of attempting to smuggle illegal immigrants in the boot of her car on a day trip to France. She had denied the charges.
She will spend three months in a French prison and was banned from visiting France for three years.
Security staff discovered two Pakistanis in the boot of the car, which was about to board a UK-bound ferry at Calais.
After three days Danielle's grandmother discovered what had happened when the pair were reported missing to police.
She said: "I am so relieved. She is in the same clothes she was wearing on Thursday. I can't believe I can now touch her and kiss her. I am so happy.
"It is shocking what has happened to her mother and Danielle is now very quiet. I do not think it has really sunk in and she is very sad."
Danielle could not wait to get home and eat waffles and Quorn burgers with barbecue sauce after eating chicken and bread for her Christmas dinner at a hostel in Boulogne.
She said: "I am really going to miss my mum. I haven't spoken to her since she was arrested. But I am glad to be going home. It was okay in the hostel but I can only speak a little bit of French."
Mrs Tuckfield also leaves at home her 25-year-old Sri Lankan husband and Christina, a 14-year-old daughter.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article