AN ASYLUM seeker living in Runcorn has told of his heartbreak at being unable to visit his sick mother in Turkey.

Murat Acan, known as Ketch, is currently living at the YMCA in Halton Lodge.

The 30-year-old moved to the area after marrying a Runcorn girl in Turkey in 1997.

Ketch moved to Runcorn with his wife a year later but 18 months down the line they split up.

Now Ketch is faced with an impossible situation.

As an asylum seeker he is not allowed to return to Turkey to visit his mother who is very ill.

But if he leaves Britain and returns home he faces jail for not completing his national service.

'There are a number of reasons why I don't want to return to Turkey including work, religion and national service,' he said.

'I don't want to go in the army ­ I don't want to be a Turk again. I don't even want to live in Turkey again. I just want to go and see my mother.

'If I'm put in the asylum seeker position then I can never go back and see my mum.

'If I can get my British citizenship then I can live in England, work in England and pay taxes.

'I don't care about Turkey. The problem is I want to see my mum but I can't at the moment.'

Ketch believes his only chance of staying in England and being able to return home for a break is to become a British citizen.

Now he is appealing to anyone who has been in a similar situation or can offer legal advice to help him out.

'If I had stayed with my wife then I would be a British citizen by now,' he said.

'I was just a few weeks away from becoming British, but because we didn't stay together, I could be sent home.

'I've done the honest thing. I didn't want to stay with my wife just for the sake of British citizenship. I didn't love her so we had to split up.

'Now though, I'm facing jail even though I was just a few weeks away from becoming a British citizen.

'I just hope there's someone out there who can help me.'

* If you are able to help or offer advice to Ketch, contact the Weekly News on 01928 563400.