Thirteen 'dangerous' criminals deported to Jamaica, but more than 30 remain after legal challenges

Thirteen "dangerous" Jamaican criminals were deported on a flight on Tuesday night, but more than 35 other offenders escaped removal from the UK after last-minute legal appeals.

The 13 had been convicted of offences earning more than 100 years in jail and included three murderers, a paedophile convicted of grooming a child and four drug dealers.

Chris Philp, the immigration minister,  said he was disappointed by the last-minute tactics used by lawyers to block the deportation of the other offenders.

"These individuals had every opportunity to raise the claims in the days and weeks leading up to the flight," he said. "However, a significant number of claims were not submitted until hours before the flight was due to leave – meaning murderers and rapists have been able to stay in the UK.

"Those we are attempting to remove have committed crimes which have a devastating impact on victims and their families.

"We will be working through these cases as quickly as possible. I remain committed to removing foreign criminals and anyone without a legal basis to be here to keep the British public safe, which will always be my number one priority."

On Tuesday evening, campaigners appealed for any pro bono lawyers who could challenge the deportation of the remaining 20 on the flight for breaches of their rights to a family life and even on the grounds that their high blood pressure made them unfit to fly.

A Home Office source said: "Lefty lawyers are going to spend all evening on the phones to judges in their pyjamas to try to get people who have committed heinous crimes dragged off this flight."

The breakdown of those on the flight included:

Murder and manslaughter

• One convicted of murder and given a life sentence.

• One convicted of murder and given a sentence of 18 years and 10 months.

• One convicted of murder and given a sentence of 16 years.

• One has four convictions for six offences including manslaughter, criminal damage, possession of drugs and having a weapon in a public place. He was given a sentence of 10 years.

Violent crime

• One convicted of GBH and given a six-year sentence.

 Sexual offences

• One convicted of sexual grooming and activity with a female under 16 years old and sentenced to five years.

• One convicted of multiple offences including GBH and 2 counts for intercourse with a female under the age of 16 years. He was sentenced to 10 years.

 Drugs

• One convicted of possession with intent to supply of class A and B drugs and given a sentence of seven years.

• One convicted of possession of class A drugs and given a sentence of six years.

• One convicted of possession with intent to supply of class A drugs and given a sentence of four years and eight months.

• One with five convictions for seven offences including possession with intent to supply of class A drugs. He was sentenced to four years and one month.  

Burglary and firearm offences

• One convicted of aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm and given a 10-year sentence.

• One convicted of theft, robbery and failing to surrender to custody. He was given a three-year sentence.