Former paratrooper Stuart Griffiths, aged 26, was arrested while working in the Congo with the Red Cross covering the country's on-going conflict.

What followed was a 30 hour ordeal when he was interrogated and robbed by President Kabila's soldiers before eventually being freed.

The former Padgate High pupil, who now lives in central London, was spotted taking photographs in the capital Kinshasa by government troops.

Freelance snapper Stuart was soon thrown in a cell while his interpreter, a Congolese priest, was beaten-up in front of him.

Said Stuart: "They arrested me in the street and claimed I didn't have a photo permit. Then they said I was a Rwandan spy!

"The atmosphere of the country was very intimidating with lots of soldiers and military everywhere.

"After I was arrested the soldiers would punch you in the back of the head, trip and kick you to try and provoke a reaction.

"They also took it out on my interpreter, Fidel, whipping him and sticking bayonets up against his face," he said.

His military training and background proved invaluable in the threatening atmosphere.

"It was important to keep your head," he said. "You had to keep cool and not try to provoke them in anyway."

His scariest moment came was when he was being driven down a long, dark road through the city's streets.

"I thought that was going to be it. It was a very scary situation," he added. Stuart was eventually released after handing over hundreds of dollars to his captors and he managed to get a flight out of the country.

Relaxing back at his mum's house in Kingswood, Stuart is planning further dangerous trips and assignments.

"I'd like to do a feature about the military in East Timor or about the Niger hillmen of Asam, something like that. Well, you've got to take risks haven't you?"

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.