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‘Child’ boat migrant busted after being outed by his grey hairs and stubble

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A BOAT migrant who claimed he was a child so he could stay in Britain was outed as an adult — by his grey hairs and stubble.

Aria Ibrahimi — now deemed to be 25 — was also found to have joined a dating group for those aged 30 to 55.

Aria Ibrahimi claimed to be a child but was on a dating site for over 30s
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Aria Ibrahimi claimed to be a child but was on a dating site for over 30s

The Iranian had arrived unaccompanied in the UK in May 2020 and claimed to be 16, which the Home Office did not dispute.

He was taken into care by Kent County Council as a minor, but social workers became increasingly suspicious of his true age.

In documents to a Home Office hearing, one noted he “had a few grey hairs”, and believed he was aged late 20s or early 30s.

It was also noted his “facial features were set and without the soft features of a youth”.

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In January 2021, Ibrahimi was moved to Home Office adult accommodation, with the risk of being deported.

He then applied for a judicial review, which was rejected.

A social worker told the hearing that Ibrahimi visited several groups for universities on social media.

He also joined dating lists for those aged 19 to 25 and 30 to 55.
In one online chat, he told a person his year of birth was “1997, but here I’m 2003”.

Assessors also reported multiple flaws in his story of how he got to the UK.

Upper Tribunal Judge Susan Kebede refused the review, agreeing that his date of birth was September 20, 1997.

Ibrahimi is now facing deportation.

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