It was the birthdays they should have shared that made Tammy Aggett miss her twin brother Jody most.

While she celebrated in muted fashion at home in South Africa the 30-year-old could only think of Jody, languishing in a Thai cell.

Jody, whose family is formerly of Wootton Bassett, arrived back in the UK yesterday after a drugs charge against him was quashed.

But before the rush of emotion overtook her as Jody walked into the arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport, Tammy explained how her life had been put on hold.

"We are twins and celebrated every birthday together, so the anniversaries when he was in prison were awful.

"Being twins we did everything together, and I feel like I have left my life on hold for the last six years."

In front of a crowded press gallery Tammy kept an eye on Jody's son Ryan until his flight landed. "It's been a real shock, I only got to England myself on Sunday.

"We were supposed to meet him on Monday but his flight was cancelled, and I'm trying to cram everything in over the next few days.

"I have to return home on Thursday which isn't ideal but I want to take Jody with me once he's settled.

"In the meantime we will spend as much time together as we can. We have a lot of catching up to do. This whole ordeal has brought the family closer together and so it should be a happy end to this ordeal."

Tammy visited Jody during his spell in prison and was reassured that conditions were not as bad as she thought.

"You hear these horror stories about what they have to live in but it was better than that. You have to pay for everything in jail so we tried to get money to him to make life as comfortable as possible.

"He was so positive, his spirit was upbeat and that helped me stay positive in turn."

Tammy revealed her first priority would be taking her twin clothes shopping as a matter of urgency. "He hasn't really got any clothes of his own so we need to get him some stuff as quickly as possible," she said.

"It will be part of him getting used to his freedom and back to normal life."

Jody has spent the last six years sleeping on the floor of a cramped cell in Bang Kwang prison, never enjoying the luxury of a hot shower.

He had been jailed for life - commuted from the death penalty - in 2003. He said: "I just took each day day-by-day y'know, I just didn't let it get to me."

Mum Lorna said: "I am so happy to have him home. He's the best son a mother could wish for, I'm so proud of him.

"He called me when he reached immigration before coming home. He said mum I have just had a shower and it was hot and in private'.

"I think a lot of things we take for granted will be overwhelming for him."

Lorna, 53, said that hearing her son's flight had been delayed by a day was agony. She said: "I was devastated.

"I had been so excited and it was very confusing for Ryan to see us so tense."

Jody initially went to Thailand on a 30-day visa to see his Thai girlfriend Ramphia Lo, who he met in South Africa.

He had been staying above a travel agent's in Bangkok with Ramphia - known in the family as Kristin - when they were both arrested.

The couple were allowed to stay rent-free in the building if they opened and closed the travel agent's each day.

But the agency's owner, a dual Canadian and Dutch citizen known as Adrian, had been manufacturing ecstasy in the building.

The tenants were arrested alongside Adrian and his own Thai girlfriend when police raided the building in November 2001.

After being ordered to sign a false confession - which had not been translated from Thai - Jody was found guilty of being part of the plot.

Kristin, who was eight months' pregnant with Ryan at the time, was also jailed.

Ryan was taken from her as soon as he was born and has been living with his grandparents in Swindon since.

Jody will also move into his parents' Westlea home where he'll be sharing a room with his son.

Lorna added: "Ryan's very excited because he'll be sleeping in the top bunk and his daddy will be in the bottom bunk.

"Jody has a big teddy bear on his bed for when he gets home. Ryan has also been running up to his friends at school telling them his daddy is coming home to play football with him.

"It's really important he and Ryan have time to get to know each other now."

Sabine Zanker, of Fair Trials Abroad, said the family now intended to work on getting a visa for Kristin who has remained in Thailand since she was released last Monday.