Asylum seeker who paddled kayak across the Channel to Britain accused of raping Calais Jungle volunteer
Woman never reported it to French police because of fears her allegation might ‘stigmatise’ refugees
IMMIGRATION officers are set to question an Iranian migrant who paddled to the UK in a kayak amid claims he raped a British charity worker.
The attack is alleged to have taken place in the Calais Jungle camp eight months ago and is reportedly common knowledge among other volunteers.
But when the migrant, who claims to be Iranian, reached Dover one aid worker alerted the authorities about the alleged attack.
The victim never reported it to French police because of fears that her allegation may ‘stigmatise’ refugees.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday the aid worker who alerted the authorities about the alleged assault said it was covered up by her colleagues as they felt it would undermine the work they carried out with the refugees.
She said: "It became clear from discussions the woman hadn’t reported it because of concern it would undermine all the great work that had been done to help refugees.
"But rape is rape and I was deeply uncomfortable with that."
The the migrant, who is in his thirties and claims to be a software engineer, crossed the Channel on October 29.
The Home Office confirmed he will be questioned about the rape, but stressed it was one of the many factors being considered as they examine his asylum claim.
He is currently living in a ‘segregated’ asylum seekers’ shelter, from which he is free to come and go.
Police say the information as been ‘shared with the relevant authorities’ but there was ‘insufficient information to proceed with an investigation’.
The man, who is believed to be the first asylum seeker to have successfully attempted the 20-mile crossing in a kayak, was spotted eight miles of the Kent coast by a Channel ferry.
The UK Border Force took him to Dover where he was handed over to immigration officials.
He is reported to have said he was persecuted in his homeland after converting to Christianity.
The aid worker then became aware of his identity and contacted a detective. However it is understood the alleged victim has told friends she still has no wish to come forward.
The assault is said to have taken place amid increasing tensions at the Jungle Camp which resulted in thousands of migrants being booted out as police shut it down.
The aid worker added she first heard about the alleged attack on the British woman from a friend in July.
She added: "I knew the woman, but I never raised it with her and she never confided in me.
‘The camp was getting more dangerous. The majority of the men came from Afghanistan and weren’t used to having Western women around them."
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The Home Office said the man was ‘currently staying in a segregated asylum centre while his case is being dealt with in line with the immigration rules’.
The camp became notorious for a range of crimes during the past few years, including rapes and other sexual assaults.
The Calais Jungle clear out is set to cost the British taxpayer £35 million which is on top of the £80million to pay for private security guards to patrol ports in northern France for three years.
Last week the first ever dedicated refugee camp in Paris opened its doors for the first time sparking fears it will become a stop-off point for UK bound migrants.
The bizarre-looking £6m facility, which is in a former bus shelter in the north of the French capital, is close to the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub used by thousands of Brits everyday.
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