A Pakistani sex offender has been rearrested in a British Home Office round-up of foreign criminals to be deported

Guy Woodford:

But Imran Fazal's family and lawyer say he has been made a scapegoat for Home Secretary Charles Clarke's mistakes.

The 40-year-old from Aspley was jailed for two years in 2004 after indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl but was released halfway through his sentence.

Mr Fazal, who has lived in the UK for 13 years, was told he would be deported to Pakistan but was released while he appealed.

He lost the appeal but his lawyers were contemplating a fresh plea when he was arrested as the Home Office rounded up offenders after being lambasted for releasing more than 1,230 foreign criminals who could have faced deportation.

Now lawyers have gone to the High Court to prevent him from being deported immediately, and will try to get him released on bail on Thursday.

"Mr Fazal has served his sentence and should not be torn away from his wife and children," said his barrister Usha Sood.

"I have been told by two immigration officials that he and others are being used as scapegoats for Charles Clarke."

The Home Office would not comment on individual cases but said more arrests had been made at the weekend.

Gedling MP Vernon Coaker said: "If he has been told he should be deported, he should be deported."

Known associates

Home Office even freed prisoners with deportation orders