A MOTHER who has not seen her ten-year-old son for more than 12 months is battling to get him back from her former husband.

Cheryl Dobson, who fled the family home, last spoke to her son on the telephone in June last year

She has not seen the little boy since his ninth birthday in February 2003 and fears they will not be re-united unless she can get a two-bedroomed housing association property that will help persuade a court she can look after him.

She said: "Every day is bad for me, I think about James every minute. I throw myself into work to get me through the day.

"Christmas Day, Easter, birthdays and Mother's Day all make it harder to cope with. He's a cheeky, lively and loving boy.

"I am reminded of him all the time. When there's a programme on the television that he would watch I think of him. When I walk along the canal towpath and see people fishing that reminds me of James because he loves fishing.

"I was out the other day and there was a boy who looked the spitting image of James. I ran down the road towards him but it wasn't him."

Ms Dobson, who is living in Devizes with her new partner Adrian Bailey, claims her fight to win custody of her son, James Kleyn, is being hampered by homes@kennet, the association set up to replace the old council house list.

But homes@kennet has urged Ms Dobson to contact the association so it can consider awarding them priority.

Ms Dobson, who works as a carer, says her solicitor has told her that she will only start custody proceedings once she has got a two bedroom property.

Ms Dobson, 31, and Mr Bailey, 32, are living in a one bedroom flat in Devizes which they rent from a housing association.

Despite both working full time they say they cannot afford to rent privately and are relying on homes@kennet to find a two bedroom property.

She and Mr Bailey are on the housing register and have been unsuccessfully bidding to get a two bedroom property over the last 12 months.

They do not hold a priority card and are classed as a couple.

They want to be classed as a family with one child but homes@kennet will not allow that because James is not living with them.

Mr Bailey, who works in information technology, said: "It's just plain discrimination. Cheryl has got a son whereas a pregnant woman gets a higher priority. They won't consider us for priority because we don't have James living with us."

Ms Dobson walked out of the family home in Essex in December 2002.claiming her husband was violent.

Homes@kennet secured her a place in a safe house for six months, after which she and Mr Bailey moved to their current flat.

Ms Dobson said she tried to get her son out of her former home but was unsuccessful.

She is in the process of divorcing her husband and she says he has broken off all contact with her.

Belinda Eastland, housing options manager at homes@kennet urged Ms Dobson and Mr Bailey to contact her to discuss their situation.

Mrs Eastland said: "If they have confirmation that the child needs to come back to them urgently we can look at awarding them a priority card but without confirmation they could be taking a property from someone with a child permanently.

"Priority cards are issued under strict criteria and to award a priority card we need supporting evidence."

People on the housing register can bid for housing association properties advertised in the Gazette & Herald each week.