AI challenged the council’s decision over his age in 2022 after a judge at an Upper Tribunal, external found he was an adult when he entered the UK.

The judge found he had lied about his schooling, the means he came to the country and his age.

The Court of Appeal dismissed a claim that insufficient reasons were given by the Upper Tribunal to reach that decision, with three judges finding they were “sufficiently adequate”.

Tuesday’s judgment said AI’s asylum claim was “based on threats to his safety” posed by the Janjaweed militia, who had allegedly killed his father and kidnapped his brother.

Dismissing AI’s appeal on Tuesday, Lord Justice Singh, sitting with Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Arnold, said “the reality of this case was that the appellant had lied to the Upper Tribunal in respect of the crucial issue of his date of birth”.