Birthday for Rabar ahead of his appeal

Rabar Hamad celebrated his birthday in the care of Wigan social services

Age-row asylum seeker, Rabar Hamad, is now back in the care of Wigan social services despite campaigners wanting him to return to Oldham.

Although authorities dispute his age, Rabar insists that he is 17 — he celebrated his birthday on Saturday.

Rabar, whose parents died in Iraq in 2008, is now waiting for proceedings of his deportation appeal to begin, with a judicial review date pending.

He was originally cared for in Wigan after arriving in Britain, with the authority funding his stay at the nearest children’s home available — in Oldham.

His teacher from the former Breeze Hill School, Sally Hyman, said: “There is a place for him here at the new Waterhead Academy and the school want him back.

“I would be his form teacher so his name is on my register and it upsets me when I read it every morning. He didn’t get put on that flight out of the UK, which is good, but we want Wigan Council to listen to what Rabar wants.”