Homeless asylum seeker arrested near Davenant School after being found wandering in Loughton

A homeless asylum seeker was arrested after being spotted wandering near Davenant School in Loughton, Essex, by teachers who alerted police. Officers later confirmed the man was wanted by another force for failing to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on a public order-related offence.

On Wednesday morning, Essex Police said staff at Davenant Foundation School had seen the man on the school field after he had been acting unusually in Willingale Park nearby. They escorted him off the premises, then notified police, who located the man nearby and arrested him for failing to attend court. He has since been released on bail. No criminal offences linked to this incident were reported to Essex Police.

A police statement noted there had been online speculation that the individual resided at The Bell Hotel, but officers confirmed this is not the case and that there is no identified link to the protests there over the summer.

A spokesperson for Davenant Foundation School said staff spotted a man on the school field, intercepted him, and escorted him off the premises immediately. There was no interaction with staff or students, the school added, and police were notified.

The incident comes as authorities seek to avoid inflaming tensions around asylum-seeker housing in the region. Police emphasized that the arrest stemmed from a warrant issued elsewhere for failing to appear in court, and that no linkage to local protests or other offences was established during the investigation. Essex Police said they were in contact with the owning force and would liaise as the case progressed. The man has been released on bail, and no offences related to the incident were reported to Essex Police.