UK grants migrant drug dealer stay for being a star pupil a day before admitting sexually assaulting two women

A migrant drug dealer was allowed to remain in the United Kingdom after an immigration tribunal ruled that deportation would have a negative impact on his mental health. The decision, delivered on November 11, allowed Muhammed Izhan, 22, to stay in Britain even as his asylum case continued. The judge noted Izhan had ADHD and PTSD and had performed well academically and in sport during his time in the United Kingdom, including representing his school in rugby and earning awards.

A day after the ruling, Izhan pleaded guilty via video link from jail to sexually assaulting two women on a busy Norwich high street in June and was fined £200. He had previously been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a sophisticated drugs ring that dealt Class A and B drugs. Deportation had been signed off in May 2024.

In granting Izhan permission to remain, Upper Tribunal Judge Luke Bulpitt highlighted his school achievements and mental health diagnoses as factors opposing deportation. The judge found there was a high likelihood of significant deterioration in his mental health and engagement in drug-related behaviour if he were returned to Pakistan. Izhan had come to the United Kingdom with his mother and brothers in 2010, when he was seven, and grew up in East Anglia. Despite disruptive episodes at school, including a suspension in 2015 and eventual expulsion, the judge concluded that ADHD, PTSD and the vulnerability associated with his circumstances meant deportation would disproportionately harm him. The decision also recognized a right to family life in Britain.

Following the guilty plea in December, officials said another bid would be pursued to deport the 22-year-old from Cringleford, Norfolk. The case has drawn political critique, with opponents arguing the immigration system should not allow individuals with criminal convictions to remain. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick criticized the system, arguing that deportation should be pursued in such cases.

The episode underscores tensions over immigration policy, mental health considerations, and public safety as the government weighs how to handle individuals who commit crimes after being granted asylum or leave to remain on humanitarian grounds. While Izhan remains in the UK, authorities are preparing another bid for removal, citing both his criminal record and the seriousness of the offences.