A violent gang leader is back on the streets after deportation attempts failed.

Joland Giwa, 24, who once led an 80-strong gang that was involved in stabbings, shootings and murder, has been in the UK since 1999.

He is thought to be an orphan from Nigeria or Sierra Leone, but efforts to deport him after a 27-month sentence for two robberies failed because neither country would accept him.

A High Court judge said in October that Giwa, who led the DSN gang in Croydon, South London, and is also known as Dexter, should be freed if he was not deported within three months.

He is now thought to be in a bail hostel in Wales.

Giwa, who lived in south London, and is also known as “Dexter,” led a campaign of terror for several years in Croydon, South London.

In 2007, his DSN gang was behind a surge in violence on the streets of Croydon which saw stabbings, shootings and murder, police say.

Officers linked Giwa to at least 99 incidents of criminal or anti-social behaviour.

In a YouTube video, he boasted about stabbing a man “in the f****** head” and he bragged about his crimes on Facebook during his jail term.

The Home Office said efforts to have Giwa removed would continue and that he would be tagged and “subject to rigorous monitoring”.

A spokeswoman said: “We vigorously opposed this individual’s application for bail and we are very disappointed by the court’s decision.

“He will be subject to rigorous monitoring, including an electronic tag, and we are continuing to fight for his removal from the UK.”

•Credit (except headline): Daily Mirror. Photo shows Joland Giwa.