Inside story: The asylum seeker who wants 'a peaceful life, a happy life, a life without gunfire'

WE VISIT RUSHCLIFFE PROPERTY AND MEET WALID

- By JOSEPH CONNOLLY

AS I tentatively walk up the driveway and knock on the front door of the HMO in Rushcliffe, I doubt anybody will answer.

There are no cars on the driveway, the curtains are all closed, and nobody's been in or out in the hour I’ve been here already.

But it’s only a matter of seconds before the door swings open and I'm greeted by a man at the entrance.

I explain who I am and he nods along. He tells me that he’s from Syria and he’s been in the UK for one year.

He's one of five men in the house, he explains - not six, contrary to popular belief - so one bedroom must be empty. There are two other Syrians, a Pakistani and someone from Afghanistan.

Walid, he tells me his name is, seems really quite happy to chat. We stand in the doorway and I'm initially concerned that I’m bothering him from getting on with what he’s meant to be doing. But it doesn’t seem like I've interrupted anything. After all, he can’t work, and is bound by the £49 a week he’s given by the Home Office, which mostly goes on food, he tells me - from Aldi or Lidl, because Tesco is too expensive.

I'm eager to know Walid as a human being, which is why I asked him where he shops.

But first I need to tackle the important question - how he got here.