Failed Asylum Seeker Jailed for Bringing Weapons to School in Heywood
A failed asylum seeker has been sentenced to two years in prison after taking a hammer, hatchet and kitchen knife to a school in Heywood to attract attention to his immigration status.
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A failed asylum seeker has been jailed for two years after taking a hammer, a hatchet and a kitchen knife to a school in Heywood. Both Douk Deng, a 21-year-old South Sudanese national, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on July 29, 2026.
Deng became increasingly frustrated with immigration authorities for not providing assistance in his bid to remain in the UK. He had applied for asylum three times and been refused each time. The court heard that he intended to 'create a scene for attention' to aid his cause.
On August 6 last year, Deng was confronted by workmen at Edgar Wood Academy after a member of the public reported him behaving oddly nearby. He was seen carrying a petrol can with a hammer tied to his belt and was mumbling as he walked around the school, which was closed for the summer.
The builders called the police after becoming concerned about Deng's behaviour. Officers arrested him on the premises, preventing any potential escalation of the situation.
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