'Child' migrant unmasked as an adult after wife posted wedding picture on Facebook

An Eritrean boat migrant who claimed to be a 17-year-old boy was unmasked to UK authorities after his wife shared a wedding photo on Facebook.

The man, known as LS, reached Dover by dinghy and claimed asylum, a tribunal heard.

Originally from the East African country of Eritrea, the migrant made the perilous Channel crossing and told UK authorities upon arrival that he had been born in 2003.

His deep voice and facial feature, however, raised suspicions for council officials in Brent, North West London, according to The Sun. 

The Eritrean migrant has been asked to hand over his marriage certificate.

Judge John Keith said: 'I have little doubt that the certificate will reveal the applicant’s age.'

The judge ruled LS is likely to be five years older than claimed.

A final decision is still to be made. 

More than 1,100 migrants who claimed to be under 18 were found to be adults in the 12 months to September 2021, according to Home Office data. 

Migrants who claim to be underage receive better housing and support, a more sympathetic hearing for their asylum claim and are less likely to be detained.

Each lone child migrant looked after by a local authority costs taxpayers £46,000 a year.