An Australian man living in the UK who had been facing deportation following his disruption of the 2012 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race has been told he may stay in the UK. He was represented at yesterday's tribunal hearing by Stephanie Harrison QC and Edward Grieves.
Trenton Oldfield had been denied a visa to remain in the UK on the grounds that his presence in the country was "not conducive to the public good". This was after his having served six weeks of a six-month sentence, following his conviction for a public order offence at the university sporting event last year.
Deportation would have meant Mr Oldfield would have been separated from his British wife and child.
Speaking after the tribunal hearing, Stephanie Harrison QC said that the Home Secretary had not given the case "the proper care and attention that it deserved". Taking into account the impact on the family's right to family life, denying Mr Oldfield a visa would have been disproportionate to the offence he was convicted of. In the tribunal, Stephanie had argued that his presence "is neither undesirable nor contrary to the public good".
Stephanie and Edward were instructed by Fountain Solicitors in Walsall.
The case has been reported widely in the media, including in The Independent and The Guardian, and by the BBC.
Stephanie Harrison QC and Edward Grieves are members of the Garden Court Immigration Team. Stephanie was the winner of the 2013 Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award earl
