A 22-year-old migrant drug dealer who was allowed to stay in the UK after an immigration tribunal cited his mental health and past as a 'star pupil' has admitted sexually assaulting two women. The guilty plea came just one day after he won his appeal against removal.
From Deportation Reprieve to Guilty Plea
Muhammed Izhan, from Cringleford, Norfolk, pleaded guilty via video link from prison on November 12 to sexually assaulting two women on a busy Norwich high street in broad daylight in June. He was fined £200 for the offence.
This admission came a day after an Upper Tribunal immigration judge ruled he should not be deported to Pakistan. Judge Luke Bulpitt allowed Izhan's appeal on November 11, finding that deportation would 'have a negative impact on his mental health' and risk him using drugs in his home country.
The judge noted Izhan's diagnoses of ADHD and PTSD, and concluded there was a 'high likelihood of significant deterioration in his mental health' if removed. He also referenced Izhan's time in school, where he was described as a 'star pupil', played rugby for the school, and earned sporting awards, despite also being suspended in 2015 and later expelled.
A Criminal History and a Controversial Ruling
Izhan's right to remain was granted despite a significant criminal record. He had been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a 'sophisticated' drugs ring, dealing class A and B substances. His deportation had been signed off by the Home Office in May 2024.
The tribunal overturned this, however, citing his mental health vulnerabilities and his right to family life in Britain. Izhan came to the UK aged seven in 2010 with his mother and brothers to join his father in East Anglia.
Judge Bulpitt stated that Izhan's ADHD, PTSD and general vulnerability meant he would struggle if deported to Pakistan, a country he left as a child.
Fresh Deportation Bid Launched
Following the revelation of his guilty plea for sexual assault, officials have confirmed that another bid will soon be made to deport him. The case has sparked political outcry, with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick telling the Sun: 'Our system is a sick joke on the British people. The only solution is to deport this individual.'
The sequence of events—winning a deportation appeal one day and admitting to a sexual offence the next—has placed the UK immigration tribunal system under intense scrutiny, raising questions about the balance between human rights considerations and public protection.
