THE Oxford man known as "Jihadi Jack" said he was not afraid of death and does not plan to return to the United Kingdom.

Jack Letts, 21, grew up in the city and went to Cherwell School before converting to Islam and leaving for Syria two years ago.

His parents John Letts and Sally Lane are awaiting trial after being charged with terrorism offences for allegedly sending him money.

Speaking to Channel 4 News from the Middle East he said: "I'm not worried. Everyone is going to die on their day.

"Whether it's by a drone strike, a Muslim understands that his life is between the hands of Allah.

"So if they want to bomb me, they'll bomb me."

In another online statement he said he hated his parents because they were non-believers.

He told Channel 4 News: "I don't plan on going back to England.

"If I came back to England I don't think I'd be very welcome.

"But I don't plan on coming back anyway, alhamdulillah [praise be to God]."

When asked if he was a terrorist he said: "Do you mean by the English Government's [sic] definition, that anyone that opposes a non-Islamic system and man-made laws?

"Then, of course, by that definition, I suppose they'd say I'm a terrorist, khalas [done]."

But he insisted he was not a member of so-called Islamic State and said: "I'm not and nor do I agree with a lot of what they follow."

In January Mr Letts' parents told the Oxford Mail he was not a terrorist and had not joined so-called Islamic State.

His father said his son had become interested in Islam at 16 and had travelled to Kuwait in the summer of 2014 to learn Arabic before reportedly moving on to Syria.

Jack Letts told Channel 4 News: "I came here searching for the truth, and people of the truth, and I don't regret that I came.

"I searched for the people of truth and I found a lot of them here.

"I found people that act on what they learn and teach and benefited a lot from them, alhamdulillah.

"So it was an odd choice, but it was a very good choice, alhmadulillah, because of I didn't come here I wouldn't have met some very good, knowledgeable people."

He claimed he narrowly avoided an airstrike in the part of Syria controlled by so-called Islamic State, which has come under bombardment from British, French, American and Russian forces.

But Mr Letts said he misses home comforts from Oxford such as kebabs and Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Mr Letts' parents have been charged with a series of terrorism offences after allegedly trying to send £1,700 to him.

They are due to stand trial in January.