A British man who was deported from Australia for failing its immigration character test was found dead two days after his arrival in the UK.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Andrew Derek Moore – originally from Scotland – had lived in Australia for more than 30 years and was forced to leave his teenage son and extended family behind, after failing character tests. Mr Moore was a recovering alcoholic and also had a string of convictions.

Sydney Morning Herald has reported that forty-three-year-old Mr Moore landed at Heathrow with medication provided for him by the Australian authorities, £500 in his pocket and a hotel booking.

Because agents from Heathrow Travel Care were not available to meet him until business hours, he left his minders and made his own way to the hotel. He was found dead two days later on 26 October, outside a block of flats in south London.

Mr Moore had spent 10 years in prison or immigration detention in Australia, but despite knowing he had serious health problems, the Australian authorities forced him to leave his family in Australia and return to the UK.

A spokesman for the Australian immigration minister Chris Evans has declined to comment on the case – but said that deportations were ‘an operational matter for his department’. A spokesman for the Immigration Department said that Mr Moore was assessed as ‘fit to travel’, provided with medication – and was due to undergo a clinical review on 26 October, the day his family reported him dead.

Mr Moore’s death is being treated as ‘unexplained’ and is currently being investigated by New Scotland Yard – authorities in Australia have denied any responsibility. Mr Moore’s family has declined to comment.

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