ASYLUM seeker Burhan Warsame fled war-ravaged Somalia looking for safety in Britain.

But after arriving in Swindon he was the victim of a motiveless attack that has left him brain damaged and terrified to leave his home.

Burhan, 18, was trying to intervene in an argument when he was struck on the head and repeatedly kicked as he lay unconscious on the floor in Havelock Square.

He underwent emergency surgery for a broken jaw and now has loss of vision in his right eye and no feeling on the side of his face. He cannot hold liquid in his mouth or eat hard food and is suffering from depression and has sleeping problems.

He came to Britain after witnessing violence that saw his sister raped and murdered and his father killed in fighting.

Now he is staying with his brother Ali Warsame, who was granted the right to stay in Britain as a refugee in 1997.

Ali said: "When he needs to sleep he just starts having nightmares about the attack. He fears the worst about everything.

"He cannot see anything in his future. He just needs to improve his language and to come into society but he is afraid everyone will hurt him."

Burhan was attacked after visiting Swindon's town centre to experience its nightlife.

He unwittingly became involved in an argument between an Asian man and a group of men about the September 11 attacks. He was surrounded after the Asian man had called out to him for help.

Burhan was hit on the head and repeatedly kicked as he lay unconscious on the floor.

The teenager is one of around 140 asylum seekers and refugees currently living in Swindon.

They come from Kosovo, Turkey and Somalia, with smaller numbers from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and various African countries.

Ali said he wanted their story to be told so people in Swindon know what they and other asylum seekers have gone through.

The brother's family borrowed enough money to send them out of Somalia to save their lives. Both brothers suffered gunshot wounds and thought the worst of their trauma was over when they arrived in Swindon.

They have no news of their mother or surviving sister and do not know if they are still alive.

Ali, 29, said: "If we get our voice heard that's good enough. People say we are here for the money but all we want is a safe place. If Somalia was safe we would want to go back but can't even visit now."

Ali and Burhan came to Swindon two years ago because they wanted to get away from the noise and bustle of London. Burhan is still waiting to hear if he can stay in Britain.

Ali said: "We just want to let people know that we have seen our family abused and that we just want to be safe."

Two men were convicted of grievous bodily harm and affray following the attack on Burhan in November. Carlton Agambar, 23 of Seagry Court, received a total of two years imprisonment and Paul Hawkins, 26, of Hairmore Farm, Farington received 15 months for both charges. Another man, Randall-Churchill, received a 200 hour community punishment order and ordered to pay £118 costs.

Police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "This was a horrendous and violent assault on a young man who was merely trying to prevent two men from fighting."