'I went through hell to escape communism. I pinch myself at how blessed this country is'
Sat sipping a coffee in a Morrisons cafe in Denton, Timothy Cho smiles as he lists the things he loves about his adopted home. Fish and chips, football, history, a full English breakfast, a pint in Wetherspoons, he says reeling them off one by one.
But from a young age Timothy says he was aware of the regime's cruelty. At primary school he remembers his class visiting a friend who had been taken ill. It meant he faced widespread persecution and was prevented from going to school. . Sleeping in train stations, he would spend his days begging or stealing food, selling whatever he could get his hands on to restaurants in exchange for leftovers.
They made their way to a small market town near the border. It was Timothy's first taste of freedom. And, even in communist China, the contrast with his own upbringing shocked him. One morning Timothy woke up to find the man he was sleeping on had died in the night. Guards dragged him out of the cell like a 'dead animal'.
After three weeks the badly injured teenager was placed in the care of his grandmother, but was told the police would return for him when he recovered. Under the glare of publicity the Chinese authorities backed down and decided to deport the defectors to the Philippines. There Timothy says he was given a choice which country he wished to seek asylum in.
Unable to speak English, Timothy, having found Christianity while in prison in China, joined a local church where he began volunteering at the soup kitchen. He works with the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea and, as a freelance speaker, gives talks on human rights across Europe. In his spare time he reads history, watches football and volunteers at the food bank at St Mary's church in Haughton Green every Friday night."It makes me feel sometimes really unreal," he says. "I have to pinch myself often to make sure I am not dreaming of the life I have today.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Britain's most unhealthy towns revealed - where does your town rank?BRITAIN’S most unhealthy towns have been revealed – do you live in one of the areas? Tower Hamlets in London and Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, have been named as the unhealthiest places in England a…
Read more »
Britain’s trade unions lose faith in the pay review bodiesPublic-sector pay has not kept pace with private-sector wages, let alone consumer prices
Read more »
Britain's Tim Peake retires from European astronaut corpsThe British astronaut who inspired millions with his passion for space will concentrate on educational outreach.
Read more »
Potato shortage and price rise warning as farmers turn away from Britain's favourite vegetableThere are worrying signs that the UK’s farmers are starting to turn their backs on the potato 🥔 Leading to predictions of higher prices and shortages for the British consumer
Read more »
North Yorkshire's Saintoft Lodge listed at Grade IIThe lodge on the North York Moors was built in 1888 for Bradford industrialist Frederick Priestman.
Read more »
Met Office warning as freezing fog to hit north west this weekendMet Office weather warning as freezing fog forecast to hit north west this weekend
Read more »