A failed asylum seeker has been jailed for two years after taking a hammer, hatchet, seven-inch kitchen knife and petrol can to a Greater Manchester school. Both Douk Deng, 21, was arrested at Edgar Wood Academy in Heywood on 6 August 2025, when the school was closed for the summer and no pupils were on the site.
Deng, a South Sudanese national, pleaded guilty to offences including criminal damage, possessing offensive weapons and having a bladed article in public and on school premises.
He was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2026. He may serve up to half of the two-year sentence in custody before spending the remaining period on licence, which means he will be supervised in the community and could be returned to prison if he breaks the conditions.
Public raised alarm over suspicious behaviour
The court heard that a member of the public contacted the authorities after seeing Deng behaving unusually near the secondary school.
He was reportedly walking towards the building with a petrol container while a hammer was attached to his belt. He then walked around the school, looking towards the building before entering the grounds.
Builders working at Edgar Wood Academy became concerned and called the police. Officers arrived as Deng was walking away and arrested him.
Police recovered a hammer, a hatchet, a seven-inch kitchen knife and a jerry can containing about half a litre of petrol.
The court was told that Deng had also visited Holy Family RC and CE College in Rochdale the previous day. That school was also closed to pupils at the time.
During the earlier incident, he kicked and damaged the school’s intercom. Further criminal damage was also included among the charges brought against him.
No pupils, teachers or members of the public were injured during either incident.
The case comes amid wider concern about weapons in public places and school safety. New Daily Prime has also reported on a suspected machete attack in Bournemouth, in which a man was taken to hospital.
Court told Deng wanted attention
Prosecutors said Deng had been refused asylum on three occasions and had become increasingly frustrated over his inability to remain and work legally in Britain.
The court heard that he wanted to “create a scene for attention” because he believed the immigration authorities were not helping him resolve his status.
His barrister, Sara Haque, said Deng did not intend to injure anyone and had not shown hostility towards children, school employees or the wider public.
She told the court: “He wanted attention, and he was in crisis, but he was not motivated by hostility towards children, teachers or the wider public.”
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She added: “There is no evidence that he threatened any individual.”
The defence said Deng had arrived in Britain after leaving his family in traumatic circumstances. He was placed in a house in multiple occupation, commonly known as an HMO. This is shared accommodation where several people or households live in the same property.
The court heard that Deng spoke limited English, was unable to work because of his immigration position and believed that other people in similar circumstances were receiving help while his case remained unresolved.
Psychiatric assessments did not identify a major mental health condition, the court was told.
Police found no evidence of plan to attack people
Greater Manchester Police said detectives examined Deng’s mobile phone and investigated the circumstances surrounding the two school incidents.
Officers found no evidence of a specific plan or motive to attack children, teachers or other members of the public. However, police said his presence on school grounds with weapons and petrol remained a serious and disturbing incident.
Chief Superintendent Helen Caldbeck, Greater Manchester Police’s district commander for Rochdale, praised the officers who responded.
She said: “They were professional and brave in tackling a suspicious man armed with weapons and immediately confronted Deng to keep the public safe.”
She added: “Thankfully no one was close to coming to harm but this was nevertheless a disturbing incident.”
Judge calls for action over immigration status
Judge Bernadette Baxter told Deng that the criminal court did not have the authority to decide what should happen to his asylum or immigration case.
She said: “I have no power to order the Home Office to do anything.”
However, the judge said the Home Office should take action to resolve his position, particularly because he had already spent much of the previous year in custody.
A refused asylum application does not by itself mean that deportation happens immediately. Removal can depend on outstanding appeals, human-rights claims, travel documents, conditions in the destination country and further decisions by the Home Office.
New Daily Prime has previously explained proposed changes to UK deportation rules for migrants and a court judgment concerning the government’s asylum trafficking guidance.
