A foreign pedophile who abused his stepdaughter and two of her cousins ​​has been allowed to stay in Scotland – because his deportation would violate his right to a family life.

The man in his 50s, from central Africa, was found guilty of vile sexual assaults on the three young girls.

The seriousness of his offenses meant that he should be automatically returned to his home country.

But even though his victims were members of his extended family, his deportation was blocked because he claimed his family life would suffer – despite a judge’s ruling that he “continues to present a risk”.

Last night, Scottish Conservative spokesman Liam Kerr said: “The public will be appalled that this dangerous criminal is allowed to remain in Scotland.

“Common sense should mean that public safety always takes priority over that of offenders.”

The man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was born in central Africa in the early 1970s.

A foreign pedophile who abused his stepdaughter and two of her cousins ​​has been allowed to stay in Scotland – because his deportation would breach his right to a family life (pictured: Home Office Marsham Street , London)

Identified in official documents as “MD”, he arrived in the UK in 2008 and applied for asylum, but was initially rejected. Using publicly funded legal aid, he went to court to argue that he should be allowed to stay.

He married a British woman, had three children and became a stepfather to his wife’s daughter from a previous marriage.

In July 2014, he was granted leave to remain after a judge recognized that he had a stable family life in the UK.

In December 2020, he was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of assault, sexual penetration and sexual assault of three girls in his family, including his stepdaughter, aged nine, and two of her cousins .

Sentencing him to three years in prison for this “particularly serious and appalling crime”, the judge said: “Not only was this a sexual crime for your own gratification, but the offenses were also committed against victims in whom you had instilled confidence.

MD now lives freely in Glasgow and is allowed to see his biological children, although they live with his stepdaughter. The Interior Ministry (pictured) said it was contesting the decision.

Foreign nationals who commit serious criminal offenses are automatically deported and the Minister of Interior has ordered MD to be returned to his home country in August 2022.

However, MD appealed the deportation order, saying it would be “unduly harsh” on her biological children.

A judge said MD had no legitimate right to refugee status, but ruled deportation would infringe his rights to family life – enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – and “would have a negative impact” on the well-being of his children.

MD now lives freely in Glasgow and is allowed to see his biological children, although they live with his stepdaughter.

The Interior Ministry said it contested the decision.

A record number of asylum seekers claiming to be gay have been allowed to remain in Britain, in an alleged breach of ECHR rules.

In 2023, 2,133 asylum applications were granted on the basis of sexual orientation, a sharp increase from 762 in 2022. Extraordinarily, 49% of all asylum applications from Ugandans involved sexual orientation. allegation of homosexuality.

Under the ECHR, people who may be persecuted at home because of their sexuality can seek asylum in the UK. The Home Office said its “processes are supported by a robust safeguards framework”.