A Briton escaped from the Philippines with his girlfriend and baby daughter after being threatened with seven years in jail for adultery, it was revealed today.

David Scott, 36, a plasterer from Swindon, is now in Thailand and petitioning the British government to allow the whole family to return to the United Kingdom.

He was remanded in custody last year with his married girlfriend Cynthia Delfino, 29. The couple were accused of adultery by officials in the devoutly Catholic country.

They were told that their daughter, Janina, was to be handed over to Ms Delfino’s estranged husband, Noriel Delfino, on the grounds that the child was born before the Delfinos’ marriage was annulled, officials said.

Janina was conceived in the Philippines in April last year. Mr Scott was arrested on December 30 after flying out to visit Ms Delfino.

Mr Delfino, who split from his wife several years ago, called the police after she refused to pay him £7,000 for the "loss of face" he suffered after he discovered she was dating a foreigner.

Having spent New Year in jail, the couple were granted bail after giving Filipino officials a £1,000 bribe. Janina was born weeks later.

The couple and their baby fled to Bangkok. They now intend to have DNA tests to prove Mr Scott is Janina’s father before applying to get her a British passport.

Mr Scott is hoping UK authorities will allow his family to come and live in Britain with him.

A spokesman for Anne Snelgrove, Mr Scott’s MP in Swindon, said she had made representations on his behalf to British officials.

Recalling his ordeal, Mr Scott said: “They charged us and put us in a large cell with scores of others. It was filthy and rats would come and go as they pleased.

“Three days later we were eventually offered bail of about £150, but we had to pay over £1,000 under the table just to get it. I could see this case was not about right or wrong. It was about who could make money. As soon as we got out of sight we just ran.”

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