The story of Shaker Aamer, Guantanamo's prisoner 239

Shaker Aamer, the last British detainee at Guantanamo, was put on a flight back to the UK on Friday.

The 46-year-old was born in Saudi Arabia and grew up in Medina before moving to America in 1985 and working as a translator for the US Army during the Gulf War.

In 1996 he was granted leave to remain in the UK and moved to Battersea, south-west London, where he met his wife, Zin Siddique, who he married in 1997.

She was pregnant with their fourth child when the family moved to Afghanistan in 2001, with Mr Aamer claiming he was working for a charity.

That same year he was handed over to US forces accused of aiding al Qaida. He arrived at Guantanamo on Valentine's Day 2002, the day his son Faris was born. The father and son have never met.

According to documents obtained by WikiLeaks, Mr Aamer was once described in US military files as a "close associate of Osama bin Laden".

He was initially cleared for release in 2007, but remained behind bars until now.

During 13 years when he was referred to as prisoner 239, Mr Aamer says he was beaten, tortured and starved of sleep and food while being detained without charge or trial.

On September 25, authorities announced he would be let go, but US Congress requires a 30-day notification period whenever a Guantanamo Bay prisoner is freed.

He was due to arrive back in the UK around lunchtime on Friday.