An illegal migrant, referred to in court documents as "Sharma," who was convicted of child s£xual offenses in the UK, deliberately tried to sabotage his own removal from the country by swallowing a vape battery. The incident occurred shortly before his scheduled deportation flight, in what a High Court judge labeled a "calculated bid" to evade immediate removal.
A Calculated Evasion Attempt
The Indian national, convicted in Scotland last year for s£xual activity with a child and supplying Class B drugs, was due to be removed by the Home Office. His three-year jail sentence was shortened due to time already served, leading to his transfer to a secure immigration detention centre in November 2024.
Despite having a removal date set for September 23, 2025—following repeated delays caused by the Indian High Commission failing to issue necessary emergency travel documents—the deportation attempts repeatedly stalled.
The High Court heard that the attempt to swallow the dangerous object was a clear strategy to force officials to take him to a hospital, thereby missing the deportation slot. Following this disruptive incident, another flight was scheduled for November 6 but again collapsed due to the lack of correct Indian government paperwork.
Criminal History and Detention Ruling
Justice Simon Tinkler, presiding over the High Court hearing in London, noted that Sharma has a history of non-compliance, having "failed to comply with bail conditions on several occasions, including committing criminal offenses."
Though granted conditional immigration bail in May 2025, the order could not be executed as officials struggled to secure approved accommodation for a convicted child offender. Justice Tinkler confirmed that any accommodation had to be vetted to ensure it was not located near schools, parks, or other areas frequented by children.
The judge accepted the Home Office’s argument that Sharma posed a genuine risk to the public, citing his criminal record, previous bail breaches, and the explicit attempt to obstruct the removal process. As of the court hearing, the individual remained in immigration detention in Scotland, likely at Dungavel House, where the secure setting makes it easier to prevent further attempts to disrupt his removal. The ruling upheld the lawfulness of his detention for the time being.
