A convicted Nigerian fraudster has secured a court ruling to stay in the UK after claiming less than 24 hours before deportation that he was bisexual.

The unnamed convict was jailed for five and half years in 2015 before the Home Office began the deportation process the following year.

An immigration judge granted the fraudster asylum after several human rights claims had been rejected and an appeal opened.

A judge however granted him asylum on the grounds that he was bisexual and could not openly live in Nigeria, although the convict never mentioned it during the lengthy court appeals, The Sun reports.

The Nigerian also made two judicial review applications that were also eventually rejected.

The convict, who arrived as a student in 2006, claimed that his sexuality had caused him to suffer adverse treatment at university as well as in prison.

He argued that he had not told authorities about his sexuality before because he had only felt able to disclose his sexual orientation following discussions with detainees and a welfare officer, a claim the Home Office says is a lie.

Outraged by the judge’s decision, Conservative Member of Parliament Nigel Mills told the publication: “It’s the most ridiculous case I have ever heard.

“Every convicted criminal will be trying this now.”

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel had last October vowed to stop people “taking our country for a ride” by overhauling the “broken” asylum system and cracking down on migrant crossings.