A Nigerian man convicted of armed robbery and drug dealing has been allowed to remain in Britain because he is "possessed" - despite deportation orders being issued over a decade ago.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to suffer from mental health issues including psychosis and believes he can "hear voices all the time".
A judge allowed him to stay in Britain on human rights grounds as he would not receive adequate treatment in Nigeria - where his condition might be considered demonic possession.
The man was jailed for seven years in 2011 for carrying out an armed robbery on a brothel and seven years later was handed another prison sentence for supplying crack cocaine in 2018, The Telegraph reports.
A deportation order was issued back in April 2014, more than 10 years ago, and experts have deemed him "high risk of serious harm" to the public.
A doctor found he "hears voices all the time" and suffers from "a trauma-related disorder with psychotic features", experiencing intrusive memories and nightmares, and is preoccupied with demonic forces "playing tricks with his mind".
The criminal believes his "mental ill-health is a result of being possessed" and that these demons prevent him from moving when he wakes up.
He continues to receive treatment for an addiction to crack cocaine.
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Upper Tribunal Judge Stephen Smith ruled against deportation due to the convict's specific treatment needs, saying: "We note the appellant's recurring belief that his mental ill-health is a result of being possessed.
"We assess that him expressing this belief would increase the likelihood that others will see his illness as being a manifestation of possession."
The judge concluded that Nigeria could not provide the same level of care.
A report prepared by Amnesty International for the appeal reads: "He is at substantial risk of being identified as suffering from demonic forces and faces a resultant risk of being targeted as a result."
Amnesty assessed that in Nigeria, the man would "encounter widespread attitudes that confirm and amplify his belief in demonic forces and witchcraft as being at the root of his problems"
The man has seemed to express a desire to reform, saying: "I really want to stay away from crime. I don't want to get into that predicament again, I want to live a normal life."
His key worker reports he has been attending the gym five to six days a week and participates in volunteer work once a week.
He currently lives in the community rather than in secure accommodation.
This case is the latest in a series where foreign criminals have used human rights laws to remain in the UK - following cases such as an Albanian criminal who avoided deportation by claiming his son had an aversion to foreign chicken nuggets.
A Pakistani paedophile jailed for child sex offences also escaped removal as it would be "unduly harsh" on his own children.
In another recent case, a 44-year-old paedophile identified only as OS was allowed to join his family in Britain despite previous convictions.
Find Out More...
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to suffer from mental health issues including psychosis and believes he can "hear voices all the time".
A judge allowed him to stay in Britain on human rights grounds as he would not receive adequate treatment in Nigeria - where his condition might be considered demonic possession.
The man was jailed for seven years in 2011 for carrying out an armed robbery on a brothel and seven years later was handed another prison sentence for supplying crack cocaine in 2018, The Telegraph reports.
A deportation order was issued back in April 2014, more than 10 years ago, and experts have deemed him "high risk of serious harm" to the public.
A doctor found he "hears voices all the time" and suffers from "a trauma-related disorder with psychotic features", experiencing intrusive memories and nightmares, and is preoccupied with demonic forces "playing tricks with his mind".
The criminal believes his "mental ill-health is a result of being possessed" and that these demons prevent him from moving when he wakes up.
He continues to receive treatment for an addiction to crack cocaine.
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Upper Tribunal Judge Stephen Smith ruled against deportation due to the convict's specific treatment needs, saying: "We note the appellant's recurring belief that his mental ill-health is a result of being possessed.
"We assess that him expressing this belief would increase the likelihood that others will see his illness as being a manifestation of possession."
The judge concluded that Nigeria could not provide the same level of care.
A report prepared by Amnesty International for the appeal reads: "He is at substantial risk of being identified as suffering from demonic forces and faces a resultant risk of being targeted as a result."
Amnesty assessed that in Nigeria, the man would "encounter widespread attitudes that confirm and amplify his belief in demonic forces and witchcraft as being at the root of his problems"
The man has seemed to express a desire to reform, saying: "I really want to stay away from crime. I don't want to get into that predicament again, I want to live a normal life."
His key worker reports he has been attending the gym five to six days a week and participates in volunteer work once a week.
He currently lives in the community rather than in secure accommodation.
This case is the latest in a series where foreign criminals have used human rights laws to remain in the UK - following cases such as an Albanian criminal who avoided deportation by claiming his son had an aversion to foreign chicken nuggets.
A Pakistani paedophile jailed for child sex offences also escaped removal as it would be "unduly harsh" on his own children.
In another recent case, a 44-year-old paedophile identified only as OS was allowed to join his family in Britain despite previous convictions.
Find Out More...