A Blackpool asylum seeker who cheated death at the hands of a notorious Afghan warlord has spoken of his relief after a British judge jailed his persecutor for life this week.

Abdul Ghafoor, 32, of South Shore, Blackpool, says he believes "justice has been served" after 42-year-old Faryadi Sarwar Zardad was found guilty of conspiracy to torture and conspiracy to take hostages in a unanimous decision by a jury at the Old Bailey, London, on Tuesday.

It follows an extensive £3m investigation carried out by Anti-Terrorist Branch officers from Scotland Yard and an earlier trial in November last year during which the jury were unable to reach a verdict.

The former Hizb-i-Islami military commander - who fought the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 before brutalising travellers at 'checkpoints' along the Khyber Pass at Sarobi in the 1990s - shouted "Allah is great" as he was led from the dock to begin a 20-year term in a UK prison.

His groundbreaking conviction is believed to be the first time any non-national has been prosecuted for crimes of torture committed against non-national victims anywhere in the world.

Mr Ghafoor - a fast food restaurant chef from Kabul - was the only witness to give evidence in person during the latest five-week trial.

The trial's 15 other witnesses - many in fear of their lives - opted to give their evidence via satellite link from the UK embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

He told the court how he was tortured on three occasions after falling into the hands of Zardad's private army at military checkpoints along a 50-mile stretch of road linking the Afghan capital with Jalalabad, Pakistan, between 1992 and 1994.

He also witnessed dozens of beatings, stabbings, shootings and robberies committed against other travellers, often using makeshift weapons such as bicycle chains and rubber pipes, during Zardad's four-year campaign of terror.

Mr Ghafoor said: "Being tortured by Zardad and his men were the most terrifying experiences of my life.

"This man has shown no mercy for so long and has taken advantage of the political unrest in my homeland to extort money and carry-out sadistic torture against innocent people.

"But now I am relieved that justice has been served and many people have had the chance to finally stand up for themselves against Zardad.

"I hope they will now feel able to move on with their lives and, like me, have nothing more to fear from him."

Zardad - a farmer's son - was arrested in May 2002, after being tracked down to an address in Streatham, south London, by BBC journalist - John Simpson who had received a tip-off about his whereabouts while reporting in Afghanistan.

He had been living and working in Britain as a Pizza restaurant manager since fleeing Taliban rule in 1998.

And had been awaiting the decision of an application for political asylum in which he claimed his association with the Hizb-i-Islami faction would endanger his life in his homeland.

In the ensuing investigation, police uncovered details of countless atrocities committed by Zardad and his men between 1991 and 1996, including cutting an ear off a man in front of his seven-year-old son and the imprisonment and the repeated whipping and beating of many victims held in containers for months on end.

Other witnesses spoke of a "human dog" - a half-savage, long-haired man, named Abdullah Shah - who was kept on a chain in a hole in the ground 24 hours a day.

Shah - who was executed by the post-Taliban regime in 2002 - was used to terrify civilians into handing over money or goods and is believed to have mauled victims on the command of Zardad, often biting off testicles in the process.

Sentencing Mr Justice Colman Treacy described Zardad's crimes as "heinous and brutal" and recommended he should be deported at the end of his prison term.

Justice Treacy said: "It is clear to me from the evidence that for a period of over three years you, as a powerful warlord, presided over a brutal regime of terror in areas under your control.

"You represented the only real form of authority, law and government in the areas under your control and you grossly abused your power."

He added: "I consider your continued presence in this country would be to its detriment.

"These crimes are recognised as crimes against humanity which transcend national boundaries.

"It will be for the Home Secretary to consider the political position of the country to which you will be deported."

The verdict is now being seen as a boon to human rights campaigners who have long-called for countries to prosecute war criminals for actions carried out anywhere in the world.

Amnesty International UK Director, Kate Allen said: "This prosecution is a major step forward in the international fight against torture and the UK authorities should be congratulated for bringing this man to justice.

"This case strengthens the legal principle that torture is an international crime and that there is no hiding place for torturers around the world.

"It sends out the message that torture is a vile crime and there should be no safe havens for torturers."

Mr Ghafoor - who was described by senior investigating officers as "extremely brave" for giving his testimony in person - now awaits the results of an asylum application appeal next month.