HUMAN rights activist James Mawdsley, expected back in Britain today after 13 months in a Burmese prison cell, vowed last night not to return to the country.

The 27-year-old pro-democracy campaigner was scheduled to touch down at Heathrow Airport at 5.15 this morning following his early release from a 17-year prison sentence, after being deported by the Burmese military junta.

Mr Mawdsley had an emotional reunion with mother Diana, a nurse from Brancepeth near Durham, on arrival at the airport in the Burmese capital, Rangoon.

Speaking at Bangkok Airport, awaiting the 12-hour flight to Heathrow, Mr Mawdsley said: "I'm out, but the injustice and suffering continue. I pray the international community extend the support they have given me to the Burmese people."

Referring to the support of Mrs Mawdsley, he said: "I'm not at all ashamed to be 27-years-old and still rescued by my mum."

James, who suffered a beating at the hands of his captors, said he learned to adapt to the hardships of his time in solitary confinement.

At 9am local time yesterday, he was released from Kentung Prison, in the remote north-east of Burma, where he had been held for the previous 415 days.

He was met yesterday at the prison by British vice-consul Karen Williams, and escorted on a flight to Rangoon, where he was handed over to British Ambassador John Jenkins and his Australian counterpart, before finally being reunited with his mother.

Having been deported three times by the Burmese authorities, Mr Mawdsley said he would not be going back - but said he would still campaign for democracy in the country.

He was due to be greeted at Heathrow Airport by his elder sister, Emma, a Durham University geography lecturer, twin brother Jeremy and father David.

His sister said the family now hoped he would never return to Burma, while a Foreign Office spokeswoman said its officials plan to speak to him to point out "the foolishness" of going back