I was imprisoned and tortured in Mpila prison for three months and eight days with my father for spreading propaganda and being a member of a political party opposed to the current regime.

Many are escaping brutal conflicts in Africa

While I survived the torture in the prison, my father was so badly injured that prison authorities allowed me to accompany him to hospital with a soldier.

My father, barely able to speak, was asked by a doctor how he came to be so injured. To prevent my father from revealing the torture, the prison guard reached for his gun.

In the confusion that followed I fled the hospital. I have not seen my father since.

Psychologically I am suffering a lot, I have had very stressful and very traumatic experiences here Hugues Lounguedi Refugee

It took about one month to reach Libreville, Gabon and a flight to England. I arrived on 5 April.

I do not regret leaving my country or travelling to England but I regret the way I have been treated.

I have already been evicted from one hotel for asylum seekers in Croydon because officials said I had failed to make an application as soon as I arrived.

Congo country profile

I had not realised I should have applied on arrival at the airport on a Saturday, and instead waited until the following Monday.

I was evicted on 8 May and had my immigration interview on 9 May. I had to sleep on the street that night and had no food, so had to go to the interview hungry.

I found out on Thursday my asylum claim had been refused.

Psychologically I am suffering a lot. As well as physical torture I suffered psychological torture. I am on medication for pain and anti-depressants.

I have had very stressful and very traumatic experiences here. If a review of my application is unsuccessful, I have nowhere to turn.

I feel despair.