27 March 2012 Last updated at 09:31 ET

Norfolk mother's Poland extradition threat 'shocking'

Natalia Gorczowska, who lives in Thetford, came to the UK when she was 18

Campaigners say a mother's human rights would be breached and her son could be put into care if she is extradited to Poland over a drugs offence.

Natalia Gorczowska, 23, who lives in Thetford, Norfolk, faces 10 months in prison after being arrested in December.

Fair Trials International (FTI) said the extradition was "shocking" and could have a "disastrous human cost".

Her case will be heard by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Miss Gorczowska was arrested after her home country issued a European Arrest Warrant.

FTI said she received a 10-month suspended sentence when she was aged 17 for possessing four grams of amphetamines for personal use.

The charity said she left Poland for the UK a year later, but had failed to inform her parole officer.

'Shocking case'

It said she had a "terrible childhood" in Poland and adopted a "self-destructive lifestyle".

Since arriving in the UK she had managed to clear her drug addiction and find stable employment as a factory worker, the charity said.

In March 2011, she gave birth to son Nathan.

As a single mother and the sole carer for her one-year-old child, it could mean the baby is put into care if she is made to go back to Poland.

Jago Russell, chief executive of FTI, said: "Extradition should be reserved for serious cases but, under the EU's fast-track system, thousands of people are now being extradited every year, often for the most petty crimes.

"This can have disastrous human costs for people like Natalia and places a massive and unjustified strain on the courts and police.

"We hope the European Court of Human Rights takes a stand against extradition for minor crimes when it finally hears this shocking case."