Jessica had not seen him for five years and said she wanted to reconnect with her son, explaining she was very “proud” of his actions.

After a phone call, it happened on Friday.

“We were having a chat and he got quite emotional,” Jessica said.

“I said ‘Do you want me to come up?’ and he said ‘Yes, I do. I need you mum.’”

Mr Parker's brave actions also sparked an outpouring of support from people moved by his story and well-wishers have raised £50,000 to help him turn his life around.