A SURVIVOR of child trafficking and modern slavery could be granted asylum within a week.

The 19-year-old, known as Stephen to protect his true identity, has been living with a foster family in Shildon, County Durham, for three years after he was rescued from a Cannabis farm in Newcastle.

When the Home Office refused the Vietnamese teenager’s application for Asylum and Humanitarian protection, more than 100,000 people signed a petition urging them to reconsider. Stephen’s foster parents, Reverend David Tomlinson and his wife, Davina, appealed the decision and this week, the appeal was suspended to allow Stephen to be reinterviewed. The interview took place yesterday, with the teenager quizzed for 2.5 hours on a variety of issues including his Christian faith.

The Home Office is expected to decide whether to grant Stephen five years' asylum by 4pm on Friday, February 23, although this may not be communicated to Stephen until Monday. If this is denied, the appeal process will begin again.

Reverend Tomlinson said: “We are too frightened to be hopeful just in case. We are on tenterhooks right now as to send Stephen back would be a death sentence. We are so grateful to the support we have had from The Northern Echo, our MP Helen Goodman and everyone who signed the petition.”