[Solved] Dad in serious need of advice to be able to see my child !!

Hi all,

New to the forum so i'll quickly try break down the situation.
Was with a girl 3 years ago in a relationship, had split up then found out she was pregnant. I was automatically negative (i didn't want to be with the girl, so i didn't want to bring a child into the world into a unstable relationship, not to mention i was young-er and very scared)
So yeah my answer was i didn't want the child.. That lasted for about a month. I realised i had to accept it and wanted to be involved, but by this time the girl had moved away to a town about an hour away by car (no big issue i know) but had also got involved with another man and seemed serious straight away. No problem. I still wanted to be involved with the child, me and the mum were never going to get along she had many issues and anger problems, compared to me a very calm and straight thinking person i could not put up with her. But i told her i wanted to be involved in the boys life and she accepted that, i met up with her every 2 weeks or so leading up the birth, bought clothes, bought a push chair and loads of little things like that. Was told i couldnt be at the birth, okay accepted that.

7 weeks later i am finally allowed to see the child after birth, for a brief 2 hour visit. (she had been very ill apparently and run down so couldnt cope with seeing anyone) As hard as it was i accepted it. Saw the child a few times after this but she was always extremely negative towards me and bitter from how i was at the start. I accepted this and hoped things would get better, but they didnt they just got worse. The girl got pregnant with the same lad she got with after me. She was an emotional wreck and i didnt get to see the child at all. Maybe 3 months after falling pregnant again (and splitting up with her boyfriend) she started contacting me and again i tried to go along with her way, and started seeing my son again. She then said she wanted to be with me. And the only way i could see the child would be this, so i agreed. This lasted all of about 5 days, she was so up and down, we couldnt be together. She said she didn't want a part time dad and wouldnt have it so that was that she stopped allowing me access, with threats over text saying to stay away. I of course tried to fight this but could only put up with so much.
I felt hopeless and that i couldn't do anything, i didn't feel willing at the time to go to court, something i now regret.

1.5 years later i receive a letter from the CSA demanding money. No problem. But i aint sitting back this time i want access. I make contact with her and get a hail of abuse about only trying cos i have to pay, apparently i wanted nothing to do with him and it was me who paid no interest. She will not accept responsibilty that i tried to be there for the child but she denied me. 'You know where i lived' But you also lived round there with a boyfriend (while your pregnant) and have some friends id rather not end up the wrong side on, after being threatened by you to stay away. No i didn't fight through court but i was 19 at the time and had no idea about going about things, and my confidence was shot by the abuse i received from her.
It ended up with her bringing him round for a short visit the other week which was amazing and went well. But immediately after she denied anything further because she started talking about history and wanted me to tell people that i wanted nothing to do with the boy when he was born and it was all my fault (her words) but i couldn't do that because it's a lie. She also made up a malicious lie about me hitting her, which i saw she had posted on her FB page. This is a complete lie it scares me she is capable of such a thing, i am not a violent person and there is nothing to suggest i am.

ANYWAY If you have read this thank you, and to sum it up, i am not going to stop until i get to see my child, what do you all think of my likely hood of it happening if i go through the courts? I have been absolutely honest in all i've said so yes i had been negative at the start but that completely changed and i tried to see the boy but was denied by her. I don't really know how to go about things and am going to go down the CAB midweek on my day off, but that feels like a long way away so any advice how to take her to court would be greatly appreciated. I also can't really afford a solicitor, i work full time but pay a fair bit of travel, rent and bills, and pay CSA every week aswell which is a considerable dent to my wage. So theres no way i can afford 4 figure or more court fees, but i think i might be entitled to legal aid.. Little bit of info on me, i work a full time job, have no criminal record and would be no threat to the child, as obviously stuff like that im aware makes a big difference.

ANY advice appreciated.