A Sudanese refugee who walked 31 miles through the Channel Tunnel to get to Britain has been spotted going to the job centre and attending a mosque near his new home.

Abdul Haroun, 40, is entitled to claim Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit, of around £700 a month, and is now renting a room in a £100,000 semi-detached house in Perry Barr, Birmingham, close to Aston Villa's stadium.

Abdul is automatically qualified for Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit because he was granted leave to remain at Christmas, a few days before being released on bail after his perilous journey through the tunnel in August 2015.

Abdul Haroun (pictured) is entitled to claim Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit of around £700 a month

He is automatically qualified for Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit because he was granted leave to remain at Christmas

Charity Kent Refugee Help helped him find a home so he could get bail.

A volunteer for the group, which relies on public donations, said: 'They [refugees] can apply for benefits and apply for work.

'That's what people want to do, they want a normal life.'

Abdul lived in the camp for 12 years before making the 5000-mile month-long journey to Folkestone via Egypt and Libya in August.

Friends say he has now started to learn English in a bid to improve his opportunities in the UK.

A judge handed him nine months at Canterbury Crown Court last month for obstructing a railway carriage but allowed him to walk free because of time already served on remand.

Abdul is now renting a room in a £100,000 semi-detached house in Perry Barr, Birmingham, close to Aston Villa's stadium

The 40-year-old made the 5000-mile month-long journey to Folkestone, Kent via Egypt and Libya in August

Friends were tight-lipped about his aspirations pending an appeal against the charges.

Neighbour Arthur Berry, 81, said: 'I hope he hasn't received any benefits. We're giving too much money away in this country as it is.'

Neighbour Gary Joyce, 53, unemployed said: 'People round here keep themselves to themselves. Refugees deserve to live peacefully, I'm a firm believer of that.

'Refugees should be entitled to benefits, but if he were here illegally that would be a different kettle of fish.

'We're a great mixed bunch in this area, there's every nation here. I can't see why he can't stay here if he's genuine.'

Abdul was approached, but didn't wish to comment.

A judge handed Abdul nine months at Canterbury Crown Court last month for obstructing a railway carriage but allowed him to walk free because of time already served on remand