Homeless: James Lee and his fianc�e are staying at his sister's

James Lee, 41, from Dinas Powys, near Cardiff, is trying to put his life back together after his experience when he was seen confessing on television to planting bombs in the oil-rich kingdom.

He was one of six men granted a royal pardon in August by the Saudi king for their alleged role in the crimes.

But after returning to Wales to aid his recovery from the psychological trauma, he and his fianc�e, Gillian Barton, are still sleeping at his sister's house because the local authority does not see them as a housing priority.

They told me would do things to her in front of me - that's when I cracked James Lee

Mr Lee, who worked in a Saudi hospital creating artificial limbs, is being supported by UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Vale of Glamorgan Labour MP John Smith is also backing his bid for accommodation in the area, where Mr Lee's two sisters live.

Mr Lee says he confessed on Saudi TV after threats against Ms Barton

But the promises have not helped him settle back into a quiet routine where the pair can begin putting the trauma of their final years in Saudi Arabia behind them.

Mr Lee told the BBC he was kept in solitary confinement for most of his time in prison.

"During the first 24 hours, I repeatedly had a gun put against my head and told to shut up and cooperate.

"They started beating me about the face, hitting me with canes on my hands and legs and repeatedly pushing me round shouting and telling me to confess.

"I didn't know what they wanted me to confess to until days and days after when they said they wanted me to confess to the bombings."

'Unrealistic aspiration'

He said he did not get to the point of being prepared to confess to anything until they threatened to arrest Ms Barton.

"They told me they would do things to her in front of me. That's when I cracked."

Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council has said Mr Lee's homelessness application was being investigated.

A spokesman has said: "The council must stress that it has a very high demand for all types of accommodation and a limited number of homes available to rent.

"Consequently, while the council understands Mr Lee's wishes to be re-housed in or near Dinas Powys, this aspiration is unrealistic and unlikely to be achieved on current demands for housing and the limited number of empty council homes."