Farhad Hosnavi, an Iranian who arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel illegally in a small boat, has repeatedly smashed up a Norwich asylum hotel as well as the city's main police station, causing more than £10,000 of damage.

He has carried out the attacks days - sometimes hours - after being released from jail for his previous offence.

The 27-year-old's latest conviction, for an attack on Bethel Street police station on Saturday, came almost a year to the day after a judge jailed him for 12 months and told him he faced deportation.

His continued offending raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the processes for the deportation of criminals.

Over £5,000 of damage was caused to the door at Bethel Street police station (Image: Newsquest)

While ongoing international tensions make deportation to Iran extremely challenging, Hosnavi has been desperate to return to Germany, where he lived before arriving in the UK and where he had settled status.

One of his court hearings was told: "He is begging the Home Office to take him back........

© Eastern Daily Press