BRITON’S ANGUISHED MESSAGES TO PARENTS

VOICE recordings and phone messages sent home by Letts: EARLY HOPE UPON CAPTURE

MAY 3: I’m still in Syria but I’m genuinely out of ISIS territories. The Kurds are being good to me.

MAY 7: It is very clear that I was not a member of said group [ISIS]. I was within their territories, openly saying that they’re not [preaching] the truth. People genuinely thought I was crazy for doing that. Mum, I think the whole process of handing me over may be starting.

FIRST DOUBTS

MAY 26: I don’t understand why I’m in prison.

JUNE 1: I’m just outside of the city, it looks like it used to be a school, now it’s a prison. It has guard towers. It’s the terrorism prison. FIRST THREATS OF TORTURE

JUNE 1: Two people from intelligence

branch came and asked me questions. They said the questions came from England. It was ‘What is the colour of your dad’s car? What is the first pet you had?’ It’s stupid, trying to check my identity after three weeks of solitary confinement. JUNE 19: [They] threatened me with torture. They say they’ll put me in a box.

CONDITIONS WORSEN

JUNE 19: Tell them to get me out of here. I don’t even care if Britain puts me in prison. Rather ten years over there than two days here. I can’t take it here. Every now and then I get threatened with torture.

Mum tell them I request from them to help me and I might just kill myself if I don’t leave here soon and that’s not a threat it’s more of a prediction my mental state is deteriorating.

I’m losing track of reality

JULY 1: They are starting to forget to bring me food. Now they only let me out for ten minutes. And the phone is now more taboo.

PLEAS FOR HELP FROM BRITAIN

The people here have told me they’re speaking to England. I can’t stay here any longer… Can’t they just send someone to come and get me? JUNE 19:

MENTAL HEALTH DETERIORATES

JUNE 25: Yesterday I had... a mental breakdown. Even the guards here were surprised. I actually went insane. I was punching the wall and my hand was bleeding.

Dad if the problem is that they don’t want me in their countries

Then tell them to let me go somewhere else

A desert island

For example

I don’t want to blow anyone up

or oppress anyone.

I just have to leave this place or I fear I will lose my personality.

DESPERATE LAST AUDIO FILES

JULY 8: My health situation has got much worse. Now they don’t bring me food. There’s no such thing as going out any more. And then they punish you. I’ve actually been tortured, intimidated. I don’t want to still be here after a week because I’m scared of electricity. It’s one of my fears. Mum, I’ve actually been tortured. I can prove it as well. Within a week I’m going to start fighting back. What I’m going to do might result in me getting shot, but I’ve made my decision. after July 8, there has been no contact.