AN ILLEGAL immigrant who posed as a Syrian asylum seeker before murdering a "kind and peace-loving" carer has been jailed for at least 26 years.

Hani Khalaf survived on the streets of Britain by stealing food and clothes after arriving in the back of a lorry, the Old Bailey heard.

3 Hani Khalaf, 22, survived on the streets of Britain by stealing food and clothes after arriving in the back of a lorry posing as a Syrian asylum seeker Credit: PA:Press Association

The 22-year-old was bailed for shoplifting hours before he kicked, punched and stamped 62-year-old gay man Jairo Medina to death near Speakers' Corner on the evening of August 11 last year.

He then stole the carer's cash and pocketed his mobile phone.

After a retrial, the Egyptian national was found guilty of murder and he was jailed for life.

He will serve a minimum of 26 years.

Judge Wendy Joseph QC said Khalaf was sent back into the community time and again because of a failure to deport him and Mr Medina paid for it "with his life".

3 Jairo Medina was murdered near Speakers' Corner on the evening of August 11 last year Credit: PA:Press Association

3 Police forensic officers outside a police tent in Hyde Park, London, after the body of Jairo Medina was discovered Credit: PA:Press Association

She said: "It is clear that Hani Khalaf, having absconded, came to the attention of authorities on at least six occasions.

"On each, he was re-bailed because they could not make arrangements for securing his deportation in a reasonable amount of time."

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The result was that Khalaf, with no way of "lawfully maintaining himself", was sent out in the community again and again and told to report to authorities, which he never did.

Judge Joseph said he showed "no respect for the law" and became a danger to himself and others, adding: "The extent of that danger is one Mr Medina paid for with his life."