Murdered Scots aid worker David Haines was forced to write a heartbreaking letter to his parents just months before his death.
He wrote that his only wish was to hug his children and how he would never leave them again.
The dad of two was among 17 Western hostages who were held captive in Syria by a terrorist cell nicknamed the Beatles because of their English accents.
David, from Perth, had been working as a security consultant for a French charity, Acted, when he and Italian colleague Federico Motka were abducted in 2013.
Federico was released the following year.
David remained captive and was watched as he wrote his letter, which included a cash demand from Isis, by Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh – two members of the cell.
The 44-year-old was beheaded months later by Mohammed Emwazi, the cell leader known as Jihadi John.
David’s letter is understood to be part of the evidence held by UK authorities against Kotey and Elsheikh, who await extradition to America.
David’s daughter Bethany, 22, hopes it helps relatives of victims achieve some closure.
She said: “I just want justice to be done for the sake of all the families who have had their lives torn apart.”
David's heartbreaking letter
Dear Mum and Dad,
The group have told us to write the letters so that you can raise the money needed to release all the British and American hostages.
This will only be possible with all the help from Acted [a French humanitarian charity] and the governments, as well as the public.
To release us, they want €100million.
I can only hope this is not impossible.
They have released other hostages and also killed one.
I am so sorry to put you through this ordeal and maybe you can forgive me one day.
I know you will try your hardest.
They are releasing the French.
So this group do what they say they will do.
As there are American and British it may be a miracle but this amount could be raised.
If not I fear the worst!
My health is still deteriorating but I have been receiving good treatment as well as medication that seems to contain the problem.
We are being treated well at the moment but this can change at any second.
Please keep in contact and continue to push Acted to work on raising the ransom for us.
I hope they are supporting you and hope they helped you to cope with the situation.
I only wish to have the chance to see my children and hug them again, maybe one day they will forgive me too.
I don’t think I would ever leave them again!
I know Dragana [David’s wife] is strong but I am sure this is killing her.
Lots of love, D x
