Meet Stuart Whipps, the dedicated dad who has has spent almost half a million pounds on trips abroad so he can watch his son grow up.

The 37-year-old self-employed investment banker from Reading has been flying to Cyprus every fortnight for the last seven years to see his nine-year son Charlie, after his Greek-Cypriot ex-wife moved him there from the UK.

Stuart reckons in total he has forked out more than £450,000 in flights, hotels and car rental, as well as legal fees in his failed battle to bring him home.

Stuart Whipps, 37, (left) has been flying to Cyprus every fortnight for the last seven years to see his nine-year son Charlie, pictured as an infant, after his Greek-Cypriot ex-wife returned there

He has also paid £150,000 in maintenance to his ex Chrys Faulla, who moved back to her native Cyprus in 2008 when Charlie was just two.

Stuart put in 20-hour days at his IT consultancy firm before he switched to investment banking so he could make as much as he could in order to keep seeing the youngster.

He said: 'All I want is to be a part of my son’s life.

'Since the day he was born, I have felt such a strong connection to him and I will pay whatever it takes to be the best father I can be.

'I’ve been left in debt and worked so many hours I had a heart attack, but it was all worth it. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make my son happy, even if it bankrupts me.'

Stuart, pictured with Charlie (left) and (right), reckons in total he has forked out more than £450,000 in flights, hotels and car rental, as well as legal fees in his failed battle to bring his son home

Now married to Hayley, 44, a full-time mum, Stuart (centre) has one daughter with her, Sophia, three, and a step-daughter from a previous relationship, Poppy, six, pictured (right)

Stuart, pictured with Charlie, put in 20-hour days at his IT consultancy firm before he switched to investment banking so he could make as much as he could in order to keep seeing the youngster

The strain of the travelling and working hours forced Stuart to sell his IT firm and he now works part-time as an investment banker so he can work remotely from Cyprus.

I’ve crippled myself financially, but I don’t care - I want to be a part of my son’s life

In all, he says he has made over 190 trips to Cyprus and thinks nothing of spending £2,000 each time he goes. He has also spent £60,000 on legal fees over the years.

He added: 'I’ve crippled myself financially, but I don’t care - I want to be a part of my son’s life growing up.

'The court system is so heavily-weighted towards the mum, I felt like I didn’t get a look-in really.

'I just want to be with my son, but I feel like I shouldn’t have to move to a foreign country to be with him.'

Stuart has fought to keep his new family - daughter Sophia (left) and step-daughter Poppy (right) - in contact with Charlie (centre) - and has flown the entire family out to Cyprus so they can meet him

In all, Stuart says he has made over 190 trips to Cyprus and thinks nothing of spending £2,000 each time he goes. Pictured from left, Sophia, Charlie and Poppy

Charlie's mum Chrys maintained she has Greek-Cypriot heritage, meaning when she was granted the legal right to take her child to Cyprus. Pictured, Stuart (left) and Charlie (right)

Now married to Hayley, 44, a full-time mum, Stuart has one daughter with her, Sophia, three, and a daughter from a previous relationship, Poppy, six.

He has fought to keep their close-knit family in contact with Charlie - and has flown the entire family out to Cyprus so they can meet him.

Stuart said: 'My son spent every day with me until age of 18 months. His mother decided to move to Cyprus to which I fought in court and lost.

'To maintain my relationship, I’ve been put in this position, and there’s nothing legally I can do.'

Chrys maintained she has Greek-Cypriot heritage, meaning she was granted the right to take her child to Cyprus.

Stuart said: 'I’m pretty much skint now - I don’t know what to do.

'On one hand, I want to see my son grow up, but on the other hand, I can’t relocate my family 2,000 miles away, to a foreign country, away from all their family and friends.'

Stuart, pictured with Poppy, Sophia and his wife Hayley (right), has already had a heart attack but insists working long hours is 'worth it'

The hands-on dad, pictured playing polo with Charlie, said he has been made 'skint', and there's nothing he can do legally to alter his son's location