A REFUGEE faces life on the streets, after social workers refused to believe he was under-18.

The boy, who claims to be in his mid-teens, arrived in the UK from Iran around six months ago. He was rescued from the back of a traffickers’ lorry by police.

Social workers’ suspicions were aroused, however. And they claim an assessment carried out by specialists has ruled he is at least 18-years-old.

His plight was revealed at Swindon Youth Court, where lawyers debated whether assault charges against the boy could be heard by magistrates.

The boy, whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, is accused of three counts of assault, damaging a lampshade in a Swindon hotel and threatening another boy with violence.

Mark Glendenning, acting for the boy, said his client maintained he was in his mid-teens.

“The local authority had him age assessed and apparently he is 18-plus,” he said. “My client tells me quite categorically he is 14.

“There’s no other proof beyond that from anybody. Ma’am this is not uncommon in immigration cases; those under-18 are accorded a great deal more rights than those over 18.

“His support with social services is withdrawn as of midnight tonight. They will notify the Home Office and the Refugee Council. Apparently, he hasn’t been properly told that support would be withdrawn”.

Mr Glendenning said the lad claimed the withdrawal of support had only been hinted at by social workers.

Despite the claims, the only evidence that could be presented by the local authority in relation to the age assessment was an email stating that the report had been carried out. Those in the court were unable to say what that assessment entailed.

In law, a youth court must make “due inquiry” as to the age of a suspect brought before them.

Magistrates elected to adjourn the case to August 14 for more evidence on the lad’s age to be brought before the court.

Councils have a duty to provide accommodation and support to unaccompanied child asylum seekers. Home office guidance is that two trained social workers interview an asylum seeker to assess their age. The interview covers the person’s background, education, family and what they have been doing in the years leading up to their arrival in Britain. A medical report from a paediatrician is not needed.

The Refugee Council has been critical of government policy in assessing the age of unaccompanied child asylum seekers. In 2016, they welcomed a High Court ruling that a Home Office practice of treating a child as an adult if they look significantly over-18 was illegal.

Annie Vickers of Swindon City of Sanctuary hit out at “the iniquity of the asylum process whereby people are left high and dry, with no support, when their asylum claim fails”.

She added: “Leaving people homeless and destitute is not the solution to our failing asylum system.”