Judge who let blade-carrying migrant remain in Britain revealed as former asylum aid executive

A 26-year-old man named Christian Quadjovie argued that he should not be deported to France because he would struggle to rebuild his life there. He claimed he had no real ties, no home, no job experience, and only a basic qualification in French, so he feared he would end up falling back into crime if sent away.

The case caused major controversy because the judge who allowed him to stay in the UK, Fiona Beach, was later revealed to have once been a senior figure in a charity that helps asylum seekers. She had worked as a director at Asylum Aid between 2004 and 2007 and was also named in reports by Bail for Immigration Detainees as a volunteer barrister. She stepped back from these roles when she became a part-time judge in 2006.

In her ruling, Judge Beach explained that Quadjovie had access to family support and some opportunities in Britain but still became involved with gangs, drug dealing, and crime. She said that if he were deported to France with no support network, no stable home, and no work skills, there was a serious risk he would return to crime again.

The Home Office, however, strongly disagreed with her decision. Government lawyers argued that the ruling went against the weight of evidence and later succeeded in overturning it.

Christian Quadjovie’s criminal history is long. His first conviction was at just 12 years old, when he sexually assaulted a girl under 13. At 17, he was caught carrying a knife and given a nine-month referral order. Not long after, he was convicted of dealing Class A drugs in Salisbury.

The revelation about Judge Beach’s past links to a pro-asylum charity sparked political criticism. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick wrote a letter to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, calling for an inquiry into whether she had declared her previous involvement with asylum organizations. He accused her of having “open borders views” and said that decisions like hers undermine public trust in the justice system.

Jenrick stressed that judges must be seen as independent and impartial. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the judiciary defended the process, saying judges make decisions based solely on the evidence presented and the law as it stands.