By Duncan Walker BBC News Online

As the number of reported race crimes rises by 20%, BBC News Online looks at the experiences of one victim.

Lancaster shopkeeper Mal Hussain says that over a decade of racial abuse and attacks have left him "a prisoner" inside his own store.

Since he moved to the city's Ryelands Estate in 1991, Mr Hussain says he has been the victim of more than 4,000 race crimes, including attempts to shoot him, arson attacks and death threats.

The trouble started on the day he opened the shop - even though his partner Linda Livingstone is white - and continues to dominate his life.

"I'm so depressed, my life is on hold and it's all because of racism," he said.

Petrol-doused mattress

Mr Hussain said that he and Ms Livingstone sold their homes to raise the money for their general store and are now stuck with it because they cannot afford to sell.

Mal Hussain I have been a prisoner for the past 12 years - I have no freedom of movement

Race crime reports rise - click here

Over the years the shop has been daubed with racist graffiti and Mr Hussain exposed to frequent racial insults by some customers.

He said there had also been a number of arson attacks and a failed attempt to set light to a petrol-doused mattress, which had been thrown inside the store.

"When I came here it looked like a shop, now it looks like a fortress," he said.

"There's no windows, there's grills all over the shop and it's protected by razor wire."

'Democracy and tolerance'

Mr Hussain said he wants people to be made to see what it is like to be the victim of race crime.

"This is supposed to be a country of liberty, democracy and tolerance, but look what's happened here.

"I have been a prisoner for the past 12 years - I have no freedom of movement," he said.

Mr Hussain, who is originally from Pakistan, added: "I know about British history and its culture - which I have embraced - and have tried to integrate, but it's still not working out for me."

The 48-year-old said his partner has also suffered the effects.

"It has affected Linda immensely, it has destroyed our relationship," he said.

'Past mistakes

The years of abuse have led to Mr Hussain making many calls to Lancashire Constabulary.

The force apologised to him in 1999 for a "number of shortcomings" in the way it handled his case.

But it has since prosecuted a number of those who abused Mr Hussain and said its approach "has been praised by the people working with him".

Chief Superintendent Wendy Walker, Northern Divisional Commander, said: "The Constabulary has publicly apologised for past mistakes and we have agreed with Mr Hussain and his independent advisors that we must now look forward and not backwards."

But Mr Hussain remains unhappy about the way he has been treated.

He has begun civil proceedings against Lancashire Constabulary - a process which guarantees he will not be able to put his experiences behind him for some time yet.