On the surface, it’s the kind of everyday tale of human rights lunacy to which we’ve become almost inured.

An Iranian man illegally entered the UK 11 years ago and his asylum request was rejected three months later. He appealed and that, too, was rejected. But he just stayed on.

In September 2009 he was convicted of rape and jailed for five years. Still no attempt to remove him, despite his clear danger to the public. He went on to father a child, was in prison again when the baby was born and separated from its mother shortly afterwards. And still he remained in Britain.

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The High Court overruled Theresa May (pictured) and said the violent criminal, who illegally entered the UK before being convicted of rape and jailed, should be handed travel expenses so he can visit his family

Now a High Court judge has ruled that, under Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, we must pay his fortnightly travel costs to visit his child, as refusing to do so is a breach of his ‘right to a family life’.

This, of course, in addition to the tens of thousands of pounds he has cost us in legal fees.

But this case raises even more troubling questions. An estimated three million more migrants will reach the EU by the end of next year. Of the 750,000 who have arrived so far this year, half a million have claimed asylum.

And while the numbers are smaller for the UK, there is no doubt that many among this tide of desperation will end up here. It’s a mass migration on an unprecedented scale and cases like the Iranian rapist sap the very compassion out of the British people.

For I fear it is the most deserving and desperate asylum seekers who will suffer the inevitable backlash as pressure on housing and public services mounts.

And if we can’t even remove a rapist who has twice had his claim for asylum rejected, what hope is there?

Cases like this shake our confidence in a system that is clearly failing.

Look at the figures. Of the 314,000 asylum seekers whose applications were rejected in the seven years up to 2004, only 75,000 were removed.

Home Secretary Theresa May is making heroic strides trying to tighten the system, but is thwarted at every turn by the courts and the Human Rights Act, something David Cameron vowed to replace.

Perhaps most worrying of all is that we are not even allowed to know the Iranian rapist’s name. In court he was referred to as MG, no doubt to protect him and his child.

What about the protection of the British public? Isn’t the whole point of the sex offenders’ register that we should be allowed to know the identity of the monsters in our midst?

Terrifyingly, he is just one of the 400 foreign murderers, rapists and paedophiles to successfully challenge their deportation orders in the past 12 months on human rights grounds. To cap it all, he is challenging his asylum claim rejection for a third time.

It’s enough to make you want to leave the country.

The right time for a holiday?

A Rotherham family of 14 were devastated to learn their £4,000 dream holiday to Sharm el-Sheikh had been cancelled after the suspected airliner bombing.

The Hancocks were ‘gutted’, especially the five children, the youngest of whom is six.

Odd they were travelling at all, given half-term ended on November 2, three days before they were to fly out.

And why such fuss from the Sharm el-Sheikh holidaymakers that they’ll have to return without their luggage? It’s a small price to pay for their safety. And they certainly won’t need their swimming trunks when they get back to Blighty.

The gorgeous Jennifer Lawrence has had two red-carpet appearances this week for the launch of the final instalment of The Hunger Games, which has helped her make £34 million over the past year. With all that money, you’d think she could buy herself a decent bra.

The gorgeous Jennifer Lawrence has had two red-carpet appearances this week for the launch of the final instalment of The Hunger Games, which has helped her make £34 million over the past year

Don't strike, docs

Junior doctors are among the most respected members of our community, with good reason.

So their determination to strike during winter, leading up to Christmas when the NHS is at breaking point, is dismaying.

The belligerent British Medical Association is increasingly acting like a militant union.

When Tube drivers strike, passengers are inconvenienced. When doctors strike, patients die. And I can’t help but fear that those who will most regret the action will be the doctors themselves.

When Chinese artist Chen Dapeng unveiled his sculpture of the Queen, he said it depicted her wisdom and kindness, and that he hoped it would be ‘an act of reconciliation between our two peoples’.

Since he’s made the Queen look like Dustin Hoffman cross-dressing in Tootsie, I’d say it’s more like a declaration of war!

Like looking in a mirror: Chinese artist Chen Dapeng's sculpture of the Queen (right) looks more like Dustin Hoffman cross-dressing in Tootsie (left)

Promoting her new film about Apple founder Steve Jobs, Kate Winslet insists she doesn’t allow her children access to social media.

If she’s worried about online bullying, perhaps it would have been better if she hadn’t called her youngest child Bear Rocknroll.

Sizzle a little, Nigella

Since her acrimonious divorce, Nigella Lawson has steadfastly refused to discuss her car crash of a private life.

Good for her — and her children. So the coquettish allusions to the break-up in her new TV show, that she’s ‘settled into my new kitchen and where I am in my life now’ leave a rather unpleasant taste. More disappointing, though, was that she didn’t lick a single spoon — and that she was wearing unflattering leggings and trainers.

A Nigella that doesn’t sizzle is about as mouthwatering as . . . well, as mushy avocado on toast.

A university of Essex psychologist has concluded most women are bisexual or gay, even when they believe they are straight.

I can’t help wondering if he’s spent too long in the further reaches of the internet. It certainly sounds less like an academic pursuit and more like a deluded man’s sexual fantasy.

She's consciously uncoupled from Chris Martin, now Gwyneth Paltrow wants her, her new partner and Chris and his latest squeeze to be BFFs — or best friends forever.

It’s called a ‘QuadGoal’ and she is even planning a Thanksgiving holiday for the four of them.

What’s the betting the two new partners aren’t so thrilled at the prospect of an awkward foursome chez Gwynnie, complete with Brussels sprout smoothies and a large side-serving of gobbledegook?

She's consciously uncoupled from Chris Martin, now Gwyneth Paltrow wants her, her new partner and Chris and his latest squeeze to be BFFs — or best friends forever

Westminster Noticeboard

Speaker Bercow has defended his £10,000 junket to Japan, claiming it boosted ‘relationships between parliamentary members of the two countries’. Given the Japanese are renowned for their civility and modesty, Bercow could, indeed, learn a lot. And let’s face it: there aren’t many countries where he doesn’t have to stand on a box in order to see eye-to-eye with his peers.

A typically self-effacing Boris Johnson jokes it would be ‘fatal’ for any campaign for Britain to leave the EU to have him as its leader. What he means is that it would be fatal for his own party leadership ambitions.

In August last year, Cliff Richard’s home was raided by police over an alleged historic sexual assault. Since then, two other men claim they were victims. One has been ruled out. Now Cliff is questioned again, though he denies all charges and has given evidence that he was never alone with his two accusers.

How much longer can this go on? It’s time to charge Cliff or clear him — or the only reputation that will be smeared beyond redemption is that of South Yorkshire police.

Pity the Saudi sisterhood

After finally getting a £25 million court settlement after her secret marriage to the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, Janan Harb said: ‘If I don’t fight for it, they’ll do the same thing to someone else. I thank British justice.’

That’s hardly a moment of emancipation for the Saudi sisterhood, who are forbidden from driving, showing their faces, leaving home without a chaperone or even opening a bank account without the permission of their husbands.

Brooding bad boy of rock Noel Gallagher dismisses Adele, Ellie Goulding and One Direction, saying fame is wasted on them.

‘Does anyone give a damn what these current pop stars are up to?’ he scoffs. And what is the former Oasis hard man up to these days? His former hit, Half The World Away, is the theme music for the new John Lewis Christmas ad, the most saccharine TV moment of the year. Rock ’n’ roll!

A princess in waiting

Camilla is said to be desperately hunting for a suitable royal girlfriend for Prince Harry.

I’ve got my own suggestion. Step forward Kirstie Ennis, the U.S. marine veteran helicopter gunner who carried out 38 operations in Afghanistan, almost died in a crash that cost her a leg and has just completed a 1,000-mile walk in the UK to honour her fallen comrades while raising money for Harry’s charity.

Step forward Kirstie Ennis, the U.S. marine veteran helicopter gunner who carried out 38 operations in Afghanistan, almost died in a crash that cost her a leg and has just completed a 1,000-mile walk in the UK to honour her fallen comrades while raising money for Harry’s charity

She and the Prince were pictured embracing after her epic achievement and are said to have struck up a close bond.