PRAISE to God! These were the first words from asylum seeker Willy Mpasi Mutwadi on his release from a detention centre pending a judicial review hearing.

The 42-year-old was today settling into life in Fareham after campaigners fighting to stop him being sent back to his African homeland won their first round of a High Court battle.

Mr Mpasi, who has left behind his wife and children, said he was forced to flee to the UK or he would have lost his life.

He was helped to escape the Democratic Republic of Congo and flew to England where he began the process of applying for asylum.

But since he arrived last year, Mr Mpasi has been detained in four detention centres and a prison.

Campaigners in Fareham and Gosport have fought tirelessly for his release and are now celebrating after getting a Home Office removal order overruled by the High Court.

But Mr Mpasi's fight is not over. He has to return to the High Court again in a few months where his fate will ultimately be determined. For now though, he is savouring his freedom.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told the Daily Echo: "Thank you to everyone who has campaigned on my behalf. I pray that the men and women of the Home Office will now look at the evidence to support my asylum claim, rather than just returning me to the DRC at any cost."

Mr Mpasi, a clinical biologist, fled in April last year after refusing to abuse his medical knowledge and help the government kill members of the opposition.

He got the backing of a church and they sneaked him out of the country, disguised as a priest.

When he arrived in London, Mr Mpasi applied for asylum. It was then his troubles started. He was released into the community but then detained in Doncaster and transferred to detention centres around the country before ending up at Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in Gosport where he met Mike Brown.

Mr Brown of the campaign group Neighbourlee, who lives at Wick-ham Road, has been one of Mr Mpasi's keenest supporters along with his fellow countryman and Portsmouth striker, Lomana Lua Lua.

Mr Mpasi said: "I just want to be integrated into society and learn more English. I want to contribute to the economy and get work with the NHS, hopefully as a biologist."

He also hopes to bring his wife and four children to the UK. They are currently in hiding.

in the Congo.

"They have issued warrants for the arrest of my wife and mother and the charges are serious. But because I was the main target it was safer for them if I left. In some ways my action has helped save their lives."

Mr Mpasi submitted new evidence to the Home Office at the end of October to support his claim for asylum.

But he was arrested and was due to be removed from the UK on November 25 but his supporters applied for a judicial review of the order.

Mr Brown, of Wickham Road, said: "We're very glad to have Willy back home again safely. We will continue to campaign until his case is given the consideration it merits."

A Home Office spokesman said it did not comment on individual cases.