A former Dundee woman was arrested at Heathrow Airport by immigration officials and transported to Dundee on a seven-year-old warrant for her arrest, which she had no knowledge of, and which was triggered by a minor speeding offence in 2006.
Masters student Adejoke Desravines-Adebowale, 33, formerly of Nursery Road, Broughty Ferry, slammed the authorities after being taken from a plane that had just landed from New York, held overnight in cells before being driven up to Dundee in a van to appear in court on Friday.
After being told by Sheriff Charles Macnair he was making no further order and she was free to go, Ms Desravines-Adebowale said she was still in a state of shock after her “needless” ordeal.
Solicitor Doug McConnell told the court she was appearing on a breach of probation dating back to 2006.
Sheriff Macnair asked why the warrant had not been executed before now and Mr McConnell said she had moved away from Dundee after completing the probation order.
“She has completely turned her life around. She completed the order, had gone to Derby University and now lives in Gravesend,” he said.
“She has two children and a steady partner and is starting a masters course.”
The court was told there was some confusion over what had breached her probation order and it was eventually ascertained it was a speeding offence in 2006.
The probation order was imposed after she had admitted having attempted to obtain a bank account with Clydesdale Bank by fraud, while on bail.
Sheriff Macnair asked if she had committed any further offences since then but was told she hadn’t as that would have triggered the warrant before now.
He told Ms Desravines-Adebowale that, taking into account everything he had heard, he would make no further order.
After the hearing, she said: “I’m still in shock. I had been on holiday in New York and had been shopping for my children.
“When we arrived at the airport I was told I had to stay on the plane for a few minutes. Then the police came on and told me they were arresting me on a warrant from Dundee.
“I didn’t know there was a warrant out for me. I told them I hadn’t been in Dundee for years. They said they would have to return me to Dundee and took me to Heathrow Police Station.
“From 6.30am on Wednesday until 11am on Thursday I was there, then they put me in the back of a van and we drove up. It took from 11am until midnight to get to Dundee.”
She continues: “Even when we arrived in Dundee they couldn’t find the paperwork to see what the warrant was for.
“I thought everything was all done and over with in 2006. I felt just like all the other criminals in the place, it was awful.
“I wasn’t treated badly, but just the same as all the other people there.”
Sitting with three large suitcases waiting for a taxi from the court, Ms Desravines-Adebowale said: “I’m just so tired. I have to go to Aberdeen now to get a flight down to London. I can’t wait to see my children again.
“It will be good to get home and relax again and forget about this.”
A police spokesman said: “An outstanding warrant was enforced on an individual by the authorities and due process was followed accordingly.”