Man Jailed for Two Years After Bringing Weapons to Academy
Failed asylum seeker Douk Deng found with hammer, hatchet, and knife on school grounds; judge calls on Home Office to address his status.
Carla Rooney
Douk Deng, a 21-year-old South Sudanese national, has been sentenced to two years in prison for entering Edgar Wood Academy armed with a hammer, a hatchet, and a kitchen knife.
Deng had previously damaged the intercom at Holy Family RC and CE College in Rochdale the day prior.
Police responded to Edgar Wood Academy following reports of a man acting suspiciously near the premises.
A member of the public raised the alarm, observing Deng “behaving oddly” in the street, holding a petrol can with a hammer tied to his belt.
Deng mumbled as he completed a “full circuit” around the school, scanning the building before approaching it directly.
Builders working on site grew concerned and promptly contacted the police.
Chief Superintendent Helen Caldbeck praised the officers' swift response, stating, “I’m incredibly proud of the officers’ response to this incident.”
They were professional and brave in tackling a suspicious man armed with weapons and immediately confronted Deng, to keep the public safe.
Caldbeck added, “They were professional and brave in tackling a suspicious man armed with weapons and immediately confronted Deng, to keep the public safe.” She concluded, “Thankfully no one was close to coming to harm, but this was nevertheless a disturbing incident.”
The investigation found no clear indication of Deng's motive or intention; psychiatric reports identified no major mental health issues.
Deng pleaded guilty to seven charges, including possessing offensive weapons on school premises and having an article with intent to damage property.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court stated Deng became 'increasingly frustrated' that immigration authorities provided no assistance in his bid to stay and work in the UK.
The court further claimed Deng wanted to 'create a scene for attention' to aid his cause.
Sara Haque, defending, stated Deng's actions were not motivated by any desire to injure or harm any person.
He found himself in a foreign country with very limited English and unable to work because of his immigration status. He believed and felt no-one was listening to him and no-one was helping him.
Haque described the event as “a bizarre and compulsive act lacking in any type of maturity at a time when he was in deep distress having left Sudan and his family in traumatic circumstances.”
She explained, “He found himself in a foreign country with very limited English and unable to work because of his immigration status.” Haque asserted, “He believed and felt no-one was listening to him and no-one was helping him.”
Deng felt he had reached the end of his ability to cope within the HMO, where others in similar circumstances had received assistance from immigration authorities.
Haque confirmed, “He became increasingly frustrated that the same was not happening for him. His only wish is to work and find money to support his family.”
She added, “He wanted attention and he was in crisis but he was not motivated by hostility towards children, teachers or the wider public. There is no evidence that he threatened any individual.”
Judge Bernadette Baxter addressed Deng's status, stating, “I have no power to order the Home Office to do anything.”
However, Judge Baxter added, “But in my judgment, given your circumstances as a failed asylum seeker who has been in custody for the best part of a year, the Home Office should be doing something rather than nothing to deal with your status in this country.”
The Home Office's handling of failed asylum seekers, particularly those in custody for nearly a year, faces scrutiny regarding procedural delays and perceived inaction.
Deng's case, involving a 21-year-old in deep distress with limited English and no work authorization, highlights systemic bottlenecks within the UK's immigration policies.
Historically, the UK's immigration system has faced criticism for its impact on individuals awaiting status determination, with economic pressures on those unable to work creating desperate environments.
The incident at Edgar Wood Academy, involving a petrol can and a hammer, underscores the urgent need for policy adjustments that address both security concerns and the welfare of vulnerable individuals.
The ongoing debate surrounding immigration reform and resource allocation will continue to shape the experiences of thousands, demanding a re-evaluation of how immigration authorities manage cases like Deng's.