Immigration Solicitors

A protester that disrupted the University boat race last year will not face deportation after an immigration judge revealed that he was “valuable” to the UK.

Trenton Oldfield, from Australia, was jailed for six months after causing a public disturbance at the showpiece event in 2012 and was set to leave Britain after a previous decision by the Home Secretary. However, Judge Kevin More said on Monday that he intended to allow Oldfield's appeal.

“There is no doubt in my view as to your character and your commitment and how valuable you are to UK society, and the work that you and your wife have done over the last few years,” Judge Kevin Moore said.

The tribunal heard that the defendant and his wife, Deepa, had helped people to set up projects and exchange ideas related to cities through their This is Not a Gateway charity. Two professors were among a group of 23 people willing to provide evidence for him in court.

Mr Oldfield, 37, thanked his supporters and spoke of his relief after the decision at the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. He said: “Deportation is an old ideal and it’s from another time - , 1,000 years ago. We need to rethink that and the media’s attention needs to be on not me anymore, but the people who are going in and out of this building and that where the real issues are.”

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