ONE was a hated and feared dictator who ran his nation with a rod of iron until he was forcibly ousted by an Allied invasion force.

The other is a 20-year-old who hails from Pakistan and works in a Swindon chip shop.

But they - almost - share the same name.

The tyrant was, of course, Saddam Hussein.

And the hard-working Swindon version is named Sadam Hussain.

But when pronounced the two names sound exactly the same.

"I don't tend to get any trouble or issues at all from my name," said Sadam.

"Occasionally people laugh when I tell them, or make slight jokes about it. But in terms of problems I don't have any at all - even from when I first moved here about two years ago."

Sadam now works at the Mr Cod fish and chip shop in Victoria Road.

Because of where he works he has to wear a name badge - and sometimes customers take notice of his first name.

"But it is in fact a very common name in Pakistan," said Sadam.

"It wouldn't even get associated with anyone else back home.

"I was born in 1987 and even then in the 80s, when the Iran-Iraq war was at its height, it wouldn't have been an issue in Pakistan when my parents came to choosing a name for me.

"And since I arrived in Britain I haven't had a problem with the name.

"Not even when it has come to checks on bank accounts or anything like that - luckily.

"But not having an interest in politics I've never really thought about the name too much.

"I think England is a wonderful country, and I find the people here to be very kind."

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