A serial burglar granted anonymity by a judge for his own protection posted a video of himself in court. The unnamed Albanian, in his 30s, has so far been deported four times from the UK but has continually been snuck back into the country. He is now challenging a fifth removal on the grounds that he claims he is unsafe if forced to return to Albania.
Court video posted to social media
The man, who has an estranged partner and a child in the UK, was granted anonymity by a judge in order to protect him from danger. However, he later uploaded a clip of himself at Taylor House Immigration Tribunal Centre in central London to social media, the Daily Mail reported.
The video showed him in a waiting area at the court, which he named in the captions, in an apparent violation of rules banning all filming and photography on court premises. Home Office lawyers said at the hearing that the defendant had also regularly posted photos online of himself driving luxury cars and enjoying drinks in nightclubs.
Judge's ruling and Home Office challenge
Judge Ravinder Bagral had granted a request for anonymity on the grounds that the case was an asylum claim for protection. Khdeeja Khan, on behalf of the Home Office, told the court the Albanian had committed a series of 'serious crimes' while in the UK, including burglary, as well as repeatedly defying immigration rules.
However, the defendant argued he had first come to the UK aged 13, after which he had become entangled with a gang which had targeted both him and his family when he tried to leave it. He claimed that he was tracked by gang members each time he was deported back to Albania, including on one occasion when a member held a knife to his neck.
Safety claims questioned
But he said the gang had not found him when he was living in the UK, meaning he felt safer living there. He added that his uncle had been shot two years ago after his family was involved in a blood feud, but said he hadn't reported the crime to the 'corrupt' Albanian authorities.
Ms Khan questioned why the man would draw attention to himself through his own social media activity if he didn't want to be found, to which the Albanian acknowledged his clips could be viewed anywhere.
