Monmouth MP David Davies has warned that adult asylum-seekers are being placed in foster homes without proper backgrounds checks being carried out.

The Conservative MP revealed last week that an Afghan national in his early twenties had lied about his age, before being fostered by a Monmouthshire family alongside children as young as 12.

The asylum-seeker, who entered the UK illegally through Calais, claimed he was 12 before social services placed him in care where he allegedly assaulted his foster carer. Dental checks suggest the man was between 18 and 21.

He was later removed from the home following the alleged incident.

Mr Davies said age assessment guidelines were ‘dangerously flawed’ and put foster families ‘at risk’.

“There are more and more asylum-seekers who are clearly over 18 and claiming to be children.

“Dental records can quickly establish whether someone is an adult or not, but there is a reluctance to suggest individuals are lying.

“It is extremely dangerous to take every claim at face value and these guidelines are flawed.”

Mr Davies added a different case alleged an asylum-seeker had accessed terrorism websites and child abuse images.

“This issue is of the deepest concern, not least for the families involved who are being put at risk here. It’s all very well bringing children over here, but how can they make sure they are actually children?,” he said.

The Tory MP said the asylum-seeker would avoid deportation due to his registered age as a minor.

Current laws mean even if an asylum application is rejected, the man would be eligible to remain in the UK for six years, until he reaches 18.

“At this point, he will claim he has been here so long that it would be an infringement of his human rights if he is sent back,” he added.

“The foster carers who wanted to help genuine unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are quite rightly very upset at the way they have been treated.”

Mr Davies also said parties involved tried to prevent the news from reaching the press.

“I’m also concerned that the authorities have tried to stop this particular family from speaking out by using veiled threats. I will be taking up the matter in parliament.”

“It’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. This needs to stop now,” he added.