A BRAVE woman who suffered a heartbreaking childhood in care today made a desperate plea for help to find her Greenock-born dad.

Louise Lashmar, has completely rebuilt her life after she was taken from her mum by the authorities at the age of six.

The 35-year-old was separated from her siblings and grew up in different foster homes.

Since the birth of her own son, Louise has felt a growing desire to track down her dad.

She is hoping Tele readers can help her find Steven McFadden who was in the Scots Guards when he met her mum in Hitchen, Oxfordshire.

Louise, who now lives in Kent, said: “I have always been on my own.

“Now that I have my son Freddie I feel a strong sense that I want to belong, that something is missing.

“I want to find my father and his family.

“I want to connect with people and find out more about where I come from and who I am.

“I want to know things, like who I look like.

“I hope that they would like to get to know me as well.

“I don’t want anything, I just want to know where I came from.”

Full-time mum Louise says the birth of her son Freddie saved her life

She said: “Freddie saved my life, he was my turning point. I want to give my son a good life.

“Before I was pregnant with Freddie I was in a deep, dark place and on the road to destruction.

“I had spent all my life in foster homes and my younger brother and sister were adopted.

“I stayed at one time with my half-brother’s grandparents. But at 16 I was rejected and told to leave.”

Despite her desperate start in life Louise has turned it around.

She said: “I am in a loving relationship with my partner Shane and have a settled life now.”

Louise made failed attempts to repair her relationship with her mum Karen Bradford but managed to track down family members on her mother’s side to find out more about her dad.

Steven McFadden comes from Greenock, is now in his late 50s and served in the Scots Guards, based in Chelsea.

His daughter Louise was born in February 1982.

Louise knows that Steven’s mother moved to Los Angeles at some point and she thinks there is a chance he might be there now as well.

If anyone can help Louise please get in touch with the Greenock Telegraph newsroom on 558908.