A man who had been living in the UK illegally for 19 years is managing to escape deportation for the attempted rape of a 35-year-old Down’s Syndrome woman and sexual assault of two nurses.

Harjit Singh, 48, has refused to assist with the Home Office in signing the relevant papers following a string of sexual crimes.

In light of Singh’s failure to cooperate, the Home Office is unable to deport him and will resort to seeking assistance from the Indian Embassy in order to remove Singh from the country.

Singh, of no fixed address, claims to be a devout Sikh from India.

Singh was initially arrested and jailed in 2016 for the sexual crimes he had committed.

The Express details the attempted rape of a 35-year-old Down’s Syndrome woman:

He followed her after she got on a bus in Hounslow, west London, then forced his way into her flat as she went inside. Singh tried to rape her, but bizarrely fell asleep, and the woman alerted neighbours. He admitted attempted rape and trespass with intent to commit a sexual act and was given a further six months after sexually assaulting two nurses at the Royal Free Hospital, north London, in 2015. But Singh, who requires a Punjabi interpreter, absconded while on licence from prison and was put into detention. His delaying tactics emerged as he applied for bail while the deportation process continues.

Officials believe Singh has employed these delaying tactics in order to reverse his deportation, including two failures to show up to sessions to sign deportation papers.

Singh’s legal team has suggested that Singh’s failure to show was due to their client’s misunderstanding of the proceedings. Singh’s legal team have also admitted that their client wishes to avoid deportation.

Officials have also expressed their concerns over Singh’s previous evasion.

The investigating officers in his case believe Singh may have committed other sexual assaults and have urged potential victims to step forward.