A FAILED asylum seeker who had been living in Ely was arrested and led away from the city courthouse on Thursday afternoon. Turan Yasan, 25, had been refused asylum in 2001 — and was told by police that he would be shipped back to Turkey almost immediate

A FAILED asylum seeker who had been living in Ely was arrested and led away from the city courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

Turan Yasan, 25, had been refused asylum in 2001 - and was told by police that he would be shipped back to Turkey almost immediately.

He was due before magistrates to have the date of his trial fixed, after denying an allegation of assault. Yasan, of Lumley Close, Ely, had denied assaulting Gosia Gargol in Ely on May 15.

Both police and immigration officers went to the courthouse. After Yasan's arrest, prosecutor Matthew Bradbury told the court that the Crown Prosecution Service would drop the case. He offered no evidence and the magistrates dismissed the assault charge.

He said Yasan had been sentenced for an offence of drink-driving two months ago. Ely magistrates had fined him £50 with £50 costs and banned him from driving for 12 months. On Thursday the court waived the outstanding fines.