Immigration barrister Paul Turner has criticised a judge's decision to order a Rotherham grooming gang victim to remove her call for deportation from her courtroom statement.
Speaking on GB News, Turner said: "Quite frankly, I don't know, it's beyond me. I can't comment particularly having not been at the hearing. I cannot see the legal basis to exclude her comments with respect to deportation."
He added that the Pakistani nationals involved would be subject to deportation proceedings under the UK Borders 2007 Act, questioning why the victim couldn't speak about "what is going to happen in any event".
The victim, who was groomed and abused from age 11, had intended to include a request for her abusers to be deported in her impact statement.
Paul Turner was shocked by a demand made by the judeg
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / GB NEWS
GB News revealed that the censored conclusion read: "I'd like to request that after sentencing and upon Rudy and Showabe's release, that they should be deported back to Pakistan as this is where they originated from and came here to exploit children."
The judge ordered this section to be removed before the statement was delivered in court. Barrister Matthew Bean, acting for the crown, stated that decisions on deportation were up to the Home Office, not the victim.
An image of Rotherham town centreGETTYUnder the UK Borders Act 2007, foreign nationals convicted of offences resulting in custodial sentences of 12 months or more must face deportation orders. However, implementation often faces challenges.
In Rochdale, rape gang ringleader Qari Abdul Rauf's deportation has been delayed as Pakistan reportedly refuses to accept him back.
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The 2022 Nationality And Borders Act introduced powers to impose visa penalties on uncooperative countries, but this has yet to be used.
Former safeguarding minister Laura Farris suggested it "sounds sensible" to impose visa sanctions on countries like Pakistan that do not accept deported grooming gang offenders.
Martin Daubney was joined by Paul Turner on GB News
GB NEWS
Turner's comments align with reactions from several politicians. Lee Anderson, Reform MP for Ashfield, criticised the judicial system, stating: "No ifs or buts, if they were born in a different country send them straight back."
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for speeding up cases and "removing those offenders who are foreign-born back to their home countries immediately."
Turner acknowledged his unusual agreement with Braverman and Anderson, saying: "It's not often I'm in agreement with Suella Braverman and Lee Anderson, but this time I absolutely am."
Tory MP Robert Jenrick also supported deportation, tweeting: "Foreign sex abusers who came here and joined grooming gangs to exploit young girls should obviously be deported."
