'I just wanted to come home': British girl, 11, held by her father in Russia is reunited with her mother

The 11-year-old had been visiting relatives with her mother Tatiana but they had been stopped by a border guard as they were about to fly home.

Vicka's biological father Yuri Gladkikh, a colonel in the Russian army, told her she would not be allowed to return to go until his terms were met.

Welcome back: Vicka Osborne celebrates at home with mother Tatiana and stepfather Dr Patrick Osborne

Vicka, from Winchester, Hants, said today: 'I am so relieved to be back. It was a horrible, horrible experience. I've been tired and frustrated and missing home.

'I just wanted to be back in England with my mum, stepdad and my pet rabbit Charlie.

'I was very hurt. Although he has not been in my life, he is my father and I couldn't understand why he would do that to me.'

The nightmare began when Col Gladkikh, who has played no part in her upbringing, imposed a restriction available to divorced parents banning Vicka from leaving the country until her 18th birthday.

Stranded in Russia, Vicka and her mother confronted him at his chemical weapons base barracks near Briansk where, they claim, he issued a cruel ultimatum.

Mrs Osborne, 34, said: 'Vicka's biological father told us face-to-face that he would let Vicka go if I de-registered from our old flat in Saratov.

'This is a man who has played no part in her upbringing at all, save for one phone call every birthday to tick the "good father box".

'And now he was using Vicka as a pawn in a horrible blackmail plot. I thought, "You despicable louse."'

Reunited: Vicka with her much-missed rabbit

After weeks of intense negotiations, Col Gladkikh withdrew the border restriction on Friday when Mrs Osborne relinquish her registration on the £35,000 flat.

After flying out to help resolve the dispute, Dr Patrick Osborne, who married Tatiana in 2003, accompanied his wife and stepdaughter home when they finally left Russian soil on Monday night aboard a flight to London.

Dr Osborne, 52, a lecturer in environmental sciences at Southampton University, said: 'We decided immediately to give in to the demands, however unreasonable, because our sole objective was to get Vicka home to her friends and family.

'Unfortunately it took time for the deregistration process to go through but thankfully it is over now and we are home.'

In a final scare, a loudspeaker announcement summoned Vicka and her mother in the departure lounge at Moscow.

Mrs Osborne said: 'I was horrified. I thought maybe he had gone back on his word and stopped us again.

'Fortunately it was just a misunderstanding over the tickets which we were able to resolve in time.

'When the plane took off, I cried and cried. It was sheer relief.'

The family will not now return to Russia for seven years in case Col Gladkikh reinstates the restriction - a problem for Mrs Osborne because her PhD studies at Birmingham University focus on improving cultural understanding between Britain and Russia.

Vicka added: 'I can't wait to see my friends. I still can't believe we are back home.

'I missed my rabbit Charlie especially. I'm not sure he remembers me anymore but I'm sure we'll make friends again.'