THE grief-stricken family of an Iranian asylum seeker who was stabbed to death during a race hate attack have appealed to the people of Sunderland not to make the same mistakes again.

Peiman Bahmani died aged 30, on August 28 last year, after racial tensions between locals and asylum seekers in Peel Street, Hendon, boiled over into violence.

He was stabbed by Steven Roberts, 18, from Edinburgh who, at the time of the murder, was on bail for a machete attack on another man.

Roberts was jailed for life after a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty of murder.

The victim's sister, Mitra Bahmani, collapsed just before the jury gave its verdict and had to be treated by a doctor in the court house.

She later said: "Peiman's murder has completely shattered my life and that of my family.

"This has been a terrible tragedy for my family and the Iranian community.

"My family are now worried for my safety here in England. When I came to England I felt I would be safe here. But since my brother's death I don't feel safe, I feel vulnerable and afraid."

But she urged all the communities involved to learn from the tragedy.

" When a group of people do something so wrong it has a terrible effect," she said.

"There are however, a lot of good people in Sunderland.

"I hope that Peiman's painful death is not in vain. Let's hope it teaches us to love one another and to extend a hand of solidarity and compassion to those fleeing terror and misery."

She praised Sunderland police for their efforts in bringing Roberts to justice.

Dr Surinder Papiha, chairman of Tyne and Wear Racial Equality Council, also welcomed the verdict.

He said: "We are satisfied with the guilty verdict, are pleased the judge recognised the racial element to the case and want to highlight the positive local partnership that has come of this incident."

Mr Bahmani, a former pipe-fitter in the Iranian oil fields, arrived in Sunderland in June 2000. He settled in Ashbrooke, had a Home Office work permit and was working as waiter while his asylum application was being processed.

He was planning to leave Sunderland to start a new life in Brighton, when he was murdered. He was due to depart the day before he died, but fatefully delayed his trip to attend a friend's party.