He described life under the jihadists as “like a prison” and spent weeks planning his escape.

The family managed to flee the city earlier this year with the help of smugglers. They then waited in the rebel-held town of Azaz in northern Syria until deciding to cross into Turkey on April 20.

Aristidou had said before his arrest that he accepted he would probably have to spend time in prison for joining the terror group but was prepared to do so in order to return home and “rebuild” his life.

Begum and their six-month-old daughter are now being held in a detention centre, where they are waiting to be deported back to the UK.

It is not known whether Aristidou will be tried in the UK or in Turkey. If he is extradited, he could be charged under the Terrorism Act and face a life sentence.

An estimated 850-1,000 Britons left to join Isil and other jihadist groups. Almost half of those have returned to the UK and more than 100 are believed to have been killed.