3:59pm Wednesday 19th November 2008 in
The size of an asylum seeker’s genitals will help determine whether he is entitled to thousands of pounds worth of taxpayers’ money.
The extraordinary revelation came during a High Court row over the age of a teenager who arrived in the UK in the back of a lorry.
Judge Stephen Morris QC heard the youngster – named only as A but under the care of Croydon Council – says he was born in November 1992 and has just turned 16.
However the local authority say he is now 18.
The boy’s age is crucial, because if he is 16 he will be entitled to welfare payments because he is a vulnerable child.
It could also have an impact on how successful his claim for asylum will be.
Launching a judicial review challenge against a Croydon Council ruling that he was 18, lawyers for the legally aided youngster said that medical evidence supports his claim that he is 16.
Judge Morris was told that a doctor who examined A believed there was an 86 percent chance that he was under the age of 17.38, and a 68 percent chance he was under the age of 16.33.
The "very experienced" consultant paediatrician, who made the findings in June this year, said A was "most likely" to be just 14. However they were rejected by Croydon officials in October.
The paediatrician's findings were reached after an examination of A’s private parts, with his height, how deep his voice is and his hairiness also taken into account.
Barrister Christopher Buttler said A - who says he is an orphan - spends much of his time thinking about his late parents and his “fatalistic” attitude was typical of someone in their early teens.
Mr Buttler also rejected arguments that his weight suggested he was 18, observing that he is bigger than average because he can't cook and is reliant on fast food.
Realising the importance of the case, Judge Morris reserved his decision on A's judicial review challenge and did not indicate when he would give it.
Comments(45)
scoffer
says...
4:17pm Wed 19 Nov 08
Womble
says...
4:23pm Wed 19 Nov 08
Brian Sewer
says...
8:36pm Wed 19 Nov 08
justine
says...
8:40pm Wed 19 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
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9:38pm Wed 19 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
says...
10:33pm Wed 19 Nov 08
scoffer wrote:
This once great country of ours is reduced to this kind of nonsense - of course, it's become the norm for those who arrive in the backs of lorries and wan't to stay in the land of milk and honey to tell lies - give him a big-mac and send him on his way!!
NastyMrTom
says...
10:38pm Wed 19 Nov 08
Womble wrote:Do you have much grasp what your tax is spent on ?
Is this seriously what my tax pays for? Anyone that arrives by the means he did should be sent back! If he was big enough to make the trip here, he can surely make the trip home! I am sorry - but life in this country is hard enough as it is without this sort of nonsence being foisted upon us. I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THIS NONSENSE! What are we coming to????
NastyMrTom
says...
11:06pm Wed 19 Nov 08
justine wrote:Again a case of 'as long as I'm alright...'. He's only a kid
What a tragic story. Poor boy. As for 'life in this country is hard enough as it is', life in this country is great compared to other countries. Again a case of 'as long as I'm alright...'. He's only a kid, whether he's 16 or 18. My taxes can go on him any time.
scoffer
says...
9:24am Thu 20 Nov 08
Brian Sewer
says...
12:31pm Thu 20 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
1:07pm Thu 20 Nov 08
Bob Peel
says...
2:11pm Thu 20 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
2:50pm Thu 20 Nov 08
Womble
says...
4:58pm Thu 20 Nov 08
NastyMrTom wrote:sadly nastyMr Tom, I have a very good grasp of what my (& other lawabiding, working citizens) tax is spent on.
Womble wrote: Is this seriously what my tax pays for? Anyone that arrives by the means he did should be sent back! If he was big enough to make the trip here, he can surely make the trip home! I am sorry - but life in this country is hard enough as it is without this sort of nonsence being foisted upon us. I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THIS NONSENSE! What are we coming to????Do you have much grasp what your tax is spent on ? Do you seriously want to send this lad back 'home' without any knowledge of what you're sending him back to ? There's no 'nonsence' here , it's the kid's life we're debating. If you don't want to pay either don't pay your taxes or leave. You're totally free and able to do so.
justine
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5:18pm Thu 20 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
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7:04pm Thu 20 Nov 08
Womble wrote:The case is about establishing the lad's age and not solely about his genitals. Although I can see how you'd think this by the way the article is written.
NastyMrTom wrote:sadly nastyMr Tom, I have a very good grasp of what my (& other lawabiding, working citizens) tax is spent on. Nonsense like this! A long court case deciding whether an illegal immigrants genitals are developed! As for a Kids life! Dont be so dramatic. This country looks after immigrants children better than its own! Look at the story of Baby P! Illegal immigrants end up with a lovely new house, on benefits paid for by me & the rest of us hard workers! Dont spend my tax on other countries & their failures, Spend it on our country & our failures (of which there are many). Unfortunately the PC/do-gooder brigade, such as yourself are stopping that from happening. Your last comment says it all, I am free to go elsewhere... Why the hell should I, I am born & bred here & have worked all my life, as did my parents & theirs before them! Plus, lets be honest. No other country will look after me the way this country looks after immigrants, before I get a job!! Mind you, if you feel that strongly, maybe the next 4 or 5 hundered that arrive here next month illegally inside panel vans & underneath trucks at Dover can come & live with you? WAKE UP UK! We are going to hell in a handbasket!Womble wrote: Is this seriously what my tax pays for? Anyone that arrives by the means he did should be sent back! If he was big enough to make the trip here, he can surely make the trip home! I am sorry - but life in this country is hard enough as it is without this sort of nonsence being foisted upon us. I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THIS NONSENSE! What are we coming to????Do you have much grasp what your tax is spent on ? Do you seriously want to send this lad back 'home' without any knowledge of what you're sending him back to ? There's no 'nonsence' here , it's the kid's life we're debating. If you don't want to pay either don't pay your taxes or leave. You're totally free and able to do so.
scoffer
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9:42am Fri 21 Nov 08
justine
says...
9:50am Fri 21 Nov 08
justine
says...
9:50am Fri 21 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
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10:09am Fri 21 Nov 08
scoffer wrote:NastyMrTom, Croydon says...
It's April the first right ? Oh no it's just nastyolTom's silly sausage post that has you thinking that way!! the moron thinks it's far better if all the decent, honest, indigenous, people of the U.K. just move away rather than accept the nonsense that's being peddled when it comes to asylum seekers!! lol - soorrry!! we ain't going anywhere chum p... we gonna keep demanding sensible immigration policies or vote out those who won't listen to the concerned members of the public - having your finger on the publics pulse is soo important in politics these days - otherwise MP's of ALL political parties will find themselves out of a job!!
Bob Peel
says...
10:39am Fri 21 Nov 08
Bob Peel
says...
10:41am Fri 21 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
11:16am Fri 21 Nov 08
justine
says...
11:54am Fri 21 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
12:50pm Fri 21 Nov 08
justine
says...
4:06pm Fri 21 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
says...
4:13pm Fri 21 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
says...
4:24pm Fri 21 Nov 08
justine wrote:
Do you know what? I can't be bothered with you anymore. I've changed my mind, from now on I want 'everybody' to come here. The more the merrier!
scoffer
says...
4:44pm Fri 21 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
says...
5:11pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Womble
says...
5:38pm Fri 21 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
says...
6:28pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Womble wrote:
Sadly, most of these comments tell me exactly what I should have known all along. Freedom of speech & the right to object only applies to Illegal immigrants & mad clerics. Not to people like me who work hard & pay the way of these interlopers. No wonder the UK has become a dumping ground for other countries, when we are not even allowed to cry out against the injustices (such as the terrible waste of money cited abocve) without our own fellow countrymen denouncing us as rascists. The PC brigade are a mighty Army & sadly, this thread has proven, those of us that want a forum to say "enough is enough" are beaten back by them at every turn :-(
Brian Sewer
says...
7:05pm Fri 21 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
7:35pm Fri 21 Nov 08
justine
says...
7:53pm Fri 21 Nov 08
NastyMrTom
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11:42pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Brian Sewer wrote:there's no problem at all with expressing your opinion Brian.
Sorry to take sides but i do think there is a problem with immigration in this country that has been swept under the carpet for far too long Why dont they have an all party agreement with a view to solving the problem at least peoples fears and concerns could be taken on board ? Hope my comments have not offended anyone cheers
scoffer
says...
9:06am Sat 22 Nov 08
Brian Sewer
says...
1:32pm Sat 22 Nov 08
NastyMrTom wrote:Thanks NastyMrTom
Brian Sewer wrote: Sorry to take sides but i do think there is a problem with immigration in this country that has been swept under the carpet for far too long Why dont they have an all party agreement with a view to solving the problem at least peoples fears and concerns could be taken on board ? Hope my comments have not offended anyone cheersthere's no problem at all with expressing your opinion Brian. There's always going to be a line where people feel they can't go beyond with their charity and investment in causes. There is also a very legitimate case for listening to the fears and concerns the public on this issue. That being the case the need to present the FACTS on the subject rather than rhetoric designed to create fear with no basis whatsoever is vital. This is the only concern I have with what's been posted.
scoffer
says...
3:08pm Sat 22 Nov 08
ANNE GILES
says...
3:35pm Sat 22 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
12:30pm Sun 23 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
9:29am Mon 24 Nov 08
I hope not
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9:47am Tue 25 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
1:34pm Sat 29 Nov 08
scoffer
says...
4:18pm Mon 1 Dec 08
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