THE mystery identity of a Shakespeare-quoting man who was jailed after washing up on a Jersey beach can be revealed ahead of his planned deportation this week.
Referring to himself as David Henry Law and claiming he was a British national, the mystery man claimed he had swum from France after being picked up at Rozel Bay in September 2024 with no travel documents or identification and €265 in cash.
In a bid to persuade Customs officers of his British nationality, “Mr Law” quoted Shakespeare and insisted he was born in the UK before being taken to Myanmar.
Last March, he was jailed for 15 months for illegally entering the Island without leave. Despite having served his time, he remains held in La Moye Prison under immigration detention.
For months, his true identity was shrouded in mystery, until Jersey Customs and Immigration Service confirmed in a statement in September that it had established that “he is not David Henry Law and is not a British citizen”, although who they believed him to be was not made public.
Now, the JEP can exclusively reveal his name to be Mr Wang – a Chinese national who will be deported to his home country next week.
The JEP has been told his last known residence was in Germany, where he had previously been granted asylum, although this status was rescinded by German authorities, who have blocked attempts from Jersey officials to return him there.
It is understood that Mr Wang has been offered the chance to apply for asylum in Jersey, but that he has declined to do so, continuing to insist that he is David Law.
The JEP has asked the government whether it has received assurances that Mr Wang will not face persecution or any criminal charges in China for which he could face capital punishment up to and including the death penalty but has not received a response to this question.
Instead, a Government of Jersey spokesperson said: “The individual known as David Henry Law remains on immigration detention at La Moye Prison.
“Detailed work to facilitate his removal remains ongoing.
“The Jersey Customs and Immigration Service and the States of Jersey Prison Service do not comment in detail on individuals in detention.”
The case of “David Law” gripped the Island when he arrived off the north coast despite widespread scepticism about his claims, with many charmed by his novel approach of quoting Shakespeare in an unconvincing attempt to prove his Britishness.
He claimed to be a British citizen, who had been taken to Myanmar by his parents when he was young before living a nomadic life, which included spending time on the streets in Europe.
After landing at Rozel Bay wearing a short-leg wetsuit, a swim cap, a pair of goggles and a belt bag containing €265 following – what he claimed was – a gruelling 13-hour swim, he was helped by an Islander who called an ambulance and he was transported to hospital.
From there, he was arrested for entering the Island illegally. After initial inquiries, no matches were found for his DNA or fingerprints, and he did not appear on any immigration databases. He also did not appear on the England and Wales General Register Office which records births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales.
During his trial, Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor said his claim to have swum to the Island from France was “a fabrication designed to avoid enforcement” and that he could not “give a single verifiable account” of his British citizenship.
Mr Law – as he was still known then – said he had never owned a passport.
Following his Royal Court sentencing, Jersey Customs and Immigration Service said: “This was a highly unusual case which has required detailed work over many months, from officers within the JCIS. Despite extensive investigations, the true identity of the individual is still unknown, and inquiries continue to be made to identify his identity and nationality.”
He is due to be escorted to the UK by Jersey Customs officials before being transported on to China, the JEP has been told.
In Jersey, final decisions on deportation orders are made by the Home Affairs Minister.
