The deportation of a Jamaican man convicted of sexual offences has been halted temporarily so that the Court of Appeal can consider granting a further stay.

Ernest Charles McQueen, 58, a Jamaican national, was due to be released from prison this month after having served time for sexually exploiting a young person while in a position of trust.

He was set to be released from custody this month, but in advance of his release it was announced that he would remain in custody until he can be deported.

McQueen, who has maintained his innocence, sought to stay the deportation order in the Supreme Court on the basis that he wished to appeal his conviction with new evidence.

The application was dismissed on February 13, with the court stating in a written decision dated February 23 that he could pursue his appeal from overseas.

According to legal documents provided to The Royal Gazette, days after the Supreme Court decision, McQueen applied to the Court of Appeal to stay his deportation.

The president of the Court of Appeal, Ian Kawaley, adjourned the application so that the matter could be heard by the full panel potentially as soon as the first week of the court’s March session.

The judge further ordered that the deportation order be stayed on an interim basis until the hearing.

A government spokesman confirmed that McQueen has not been released into the community and is still detained.

He was found guilty on November 10, 2015, of two counts of sexual exploitation while in a position of trust after a trial.

McQueen was sentenced to 15 years behind bars, of which he was ordered to serve at least half before becoming eligible for release on licence.

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