HE ARRIVED at Poole port as a terrified 15-year-old boy, crouched in the back of a lorry and unable to speak a word of English.

Three years later and Andrei Bazanov has excelled at his GCSEs and A-levels, has a part-time job, loads of friends, and begun a degree at Bournemouth University studying software engineering management.

But despite being a positive role model for all British teenagers, the Home Office wants to send the 19-year-old back to the tiny former Soviet republic of Moldova.

They say that he entered the country illegally and that it accounts for nothing that he has fully integrated into his new life and would be an asset to the British economy.

Andrei does not live in a run-down B&B eking out an existence on benefits. He already pays tax from his part-time student job at Comet at Fleetsbridge, speaks excellent English and is learning a trade.

He and his foster family in Broadstone are now starting their fourth appeal asking for permission to allow Andrei to stay - even if it's just to finish his education.

It's a world away from his life four years ago in a children's home in Moldova.

"It was an awful place so I ran away," said Andrei. "In the capital I met someone who offered to take me to France where they had relatives. I'd never even heard of England at this stage."

Then began his journey across Europe hidden inside lorries or when cash allowed taking a train or a bus until he arrived in France.

Without identity papers or a passport the French authorities refused to help him, so he was forced to live in a derelict caravan selling newspapers.

In August 2001 Andrei arrived at Poole from Cherbourg, but was found by sniffer dogs. "The guards were so kind. They gave me a cup of tea, got me a McDonalds and allowed me to wash. Their goodness was amazing," he said.

Within two hours he was taken under the wing of Poole Social Services, was found a foster family, and told by the Home Office he could stay until 18.

Within six months he'd picked up enough English to pass GCSEs at Bournemouth School for Boys and went on to excel in the sixth form.

"He's so Anglicised now," said Bob Roper, Andrei's foster dad. "He goes to karate club, has friends and a social life. He's such a brilliant young man. The government says it wants skilled migrants. Here's one and they're not interested."

A spokeswoman from the Home Office said they could not comment on individual cases.

First published: October 8