A SRI LANKAN refugee from torture was unlawfully detained for nearly a month by the Home Office and so is entitled to “substantial damages,” the High Court ruled today.

The man, identified only as KG, was arrested on January 5 2016, having overstayed his student visa by about two-and-a-half years.

KG, who is now 29, was taken to Campsfield immigration removal centre (IRC) the next day, where he was detained under immigration powers, before being served with removal directions to Sri Lanka the day after.