PA
TV presenter Melissa Porter is heading for ANOTHER tug-of-love battle with her baby's father over the custody of their son.
Just weeks after the BBC Countryfile star won a High Court battle in which she was accused of abducting her 12 month-old son, she has been told she will have to fight all over again in the US courts.
Melissa, 39, met telecoms tycoon Peter Rinfret on a blind date and had baby Pierce with him. But when she moved to London with the baby, Mr Rinfret accused her of abducting the boy and took her to the High Court.
Melissa successfully won an interim custody order but now – exhausted and emotional – she has learned she will have to face proceedings again.
She told the Daily Mail's Richard Kay at the time: "I want to come back to Britain to work and Peter wants to come with me."
Sadly, her belief that Rinfret would be able to commute between a home in Chelsea and his company in Connecticut proved impossible.
"They separated, but on friendly terms," a friend said. "So the original court proceedings came out of the blue."
Melissa is said to be struggling to find money to pay for this latest legal battle. Friends say she will have to find £20,000 to fight the American action.
"The idea that Melissa would abduct her own child is just ridiculous. She is a brilliant mother and does not deserve to be treated like this,' the friend told Kay.
"It is a warning to other people about the perils of having a baby abroad. She is so scared she might lose him."
Mr Rinfret's US lawyers said their client had no comment.