A MIGRANT used a comparison to mature-looking footie prodigy Jude Bellingham to win the right to stay in the UK.
The asylum-seeker was thought to be 22 when he arrived in the UK in 2022 but has convinced a tribunal judge he was under 18.
AlamyMigrant used a comparison to mature-looking footie prodigy Jude Bellingham to win the right to stay in the UK[/caption]
His football coach compared him to Real Madrid star Bellingham, now 20, pointing out he played for Birmingham at 16.
The coach insisted he looked young, telling the tribunal: “People came in different sizes and that size was not age-related.”
It led the judge to rule he was born in 2005, in effect, preventing his deportation.
The lad fled Sudan in 2020, arriving in the back of a lorry at Dover two years ago.
Officials wrote: “He had deep smile lines, seen in older people. Stubble hair was observed.
“His hairline appeared to be receding.”
He settled in London, where he joined a football team.
The Upper Tribunal ruling said: “The coach observed Jude Bellingham had been playing in the top adult league at 17.”
Despite the ruling, the Home Office will not pay damages.
Former minister Mark Francois said: “The Home Office should be making greater use of advances in medical technology.”
Government sources said it had a robust system for determining migrants’ ages.
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