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Original poster

to think deporting Trenton Oldfield is just mean

210 replies

sashh · 08/12/2013 06:29

Trenton Oldfield is the man who disrupted the boat race a couple of years ago.

He is an Australian married to a Briton with a baby daughter. He has lived in the UK for 12 years.

He has applied for a spousal visa and it has been rejected.

He did a stupid thing, for which he has paid with a prison sentence and a criminal record, why punish him more?

Exactly what good will it do to deport him?

Exactly how much harm will it do?

I have not put a link, there are loads of newspaper articles, web pages etc outlining the case.

OP posts:
Roshbegosh · 08/12/2013 06:35

I doubt he will add anything to society here and why keep people convicted of crime anyway? They can go and be a happy family in Australia and he will find plenty of causes worthy of his attention over there.

Rosa · 08/12/2013 06:38

What would the Australians do if a Brit in the same circumstances did this down under????

scaevola · 08/12/2013 06:38

As he's been here for about 12 years, about 10 of them before he committed the offence, why was he still on a spouse visa? If he knew his future was in UK, why did he not secure naturalisation - it seems he would have had plenty of time for that.

Morgause · 08/12/2013 06:40

We have more than enough home grown twats without keeping open house for imported ones.

WhereYouLeftIt · 08/12/2013 06:55

Link to interview in The Independent www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trenton-oldfield-interview-the-ripples-of-that-boat-race-stunt-and-how-a-family-could-be-driven-apart-8973804.html

This includes the comment "If Oldfield were sent home, his criminal record would mean that his prospects of successfully sponsoring his family for a visa would be slim." So deporting him to Australia would split the family. Surely that means he cannot be deported?

WhereYouLeftIt · 08/12/2013 06:57

Blush try that again ...

Link to interview in The Independent

This includes the comment "If Oldfield were sent home, his criminal record would mean that his prospects of successfully sponsoring his family for a visa would be slim." So deporting him to Australia would split the family. Surely that means he cannot be deported?

Morloth · 08/12/2013 06:57

I am sure there was something mentioned on his visa about criminal activity.

If you break a law in a country not your own you could be deported. It is not rocket science.

Roshbegosh · 08/12/2013 07:05

He will be getting legal advice and will find a way no doubt. Unfortunately. He should have thought of his wife and child before, stupid twat. Funny they are so important to him now and he wants to be here for them. Were they on his mind when he committed his crime? Does he go out to work to support them?

scaevola · 08/12/2013 07:10

They couldn't have been on his mind - or at least not his DC as she hadn't been conceived then.

HanShotFirst · 08/12/2013 07:16

Roshbegosh- 'Funny they are so important to him now and he wants to be here for them. Were they on his mind when he committed his crime?'

Totally agree with the above.

Ok, so what he did seems relatively minor and 'the book' was thrown at him (although it was dangerous for himself eg getting hit with the boat or oars and it can be argued, for the people participating). However, you can argue that the law is a complete ass (which it is sometimes) as much as you like, but if you break the law you will run into difficulties elsewhere.

The chances are he will say that this would be denying his right to a family life and not much will happen. But maybe this will be a lesson to him, that he has a daughter that he is responsible for, and as such should find more lawful ways of protesting.

Roshbegosh · 08/12/2013 07:17

I am sure the DC was not conceived just to help his case. Peace and love. Grin

YouStayClassySanDiego · 08/12/2013 07:30

He was a daft git who not only decided on being a twat but also upset the establishment by wrecking one of their sporting jewels in the crown, his card was marked from that moment.

Stupid arse.

TidyDancer · 08/12/2013 07:49

He's a cock, let's be honest, but did he commit a crime worthy of subsequent deportation? No. You could argue that he's a convicted criminal and therefore should fuck off, and I couldn't honestly disagree with that perspective in principle. But I wouldn't want to see a baby punished for actions of her father.

Roshbegosh · 08/12/2013 07:52

I think his protest was about class inequality. Maybe he could go with his family to a place that is more equal.
North Korea? China?
Bye, have good lives. Do feel free to pick up on anything you don't like over there and protest.

ChameleonCircuit · 08/12/2013 08:21

He obviously didn't think of his future when he committed his crime, did he!? If you are in a country not your own, you behave yourself, or be kicked out. Simple as that.

scaevola · 08/12/2013 08:47

You can be deported following a conviction that leads to a custodial sentence.

Usually, it's done only after longer sentences. But this case has been all the way through appeal and tribunal.

Has the tribunal ruling been published? The reasons would be in that, wouldn't they?

notimetotidy · 08/12/2013 09:03

There was someone else mentioned in a story in the Daily Fail the other day who couldn't be deported because of some right of family life here even though he had no wife or kids. Can't remember what he did but it was a lot worse than interrupting a boat race.

Iamsparklyknickers · 08/12/2013 09:13

I'm sure if you heard half the stories behind immigration rejections you'd have your heart strings tugged at.

He's from outside the EU so subject to stricter conditions and would of known what they are. He now has a criminal record and regardless of the circumstances it's not surprising he's been rejected.

He's not being deported over what he did, he's being deported over having a criminal record. My understanding the rules are very black and white at the first stage. It's not over and I'm sure he can pursue avenues of appeal and reapplication.

He comes from one of the strictest countries in the world regarding immigration so imho was stupid and short sighted to pull the prank he did.

GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 08/12/2013 09:20

I know a condition of my Indefinite Leave To Remain Visa is no criminal record.

I want to know what kind of visa he was on before. Because I was told you can't actually apply for 'spousal visa' (which is not an actual visa, it's a leave to remain visa) from within the country.

By the way, I've been here 10 years and have no plans to ever apply for citizenship. Many people feel the same. It's expensive and it gives you no rights a ILTR doesn't give you, other than right to franchise.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 08/12/2013 09:29

You know what, regardless of whether his offence was minor or not, I continue to be angry with him. He selfishly decided to destroy something that 18 people had given years of their lives to. For most of them that chance will not hAppen again. Nothing to do with the establishment, just. Lot if young people whose dreams and hard work were destroyed in a second.

So if you could deport people for meanness I would and I am vindictively pleased he faces this. I am a bad person!

GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 08/12/2013 09:39

Not to forget, his reasons for doing it? Were lost in the stupidity of what he did.

No one cares why he did it, because he was an idiot for doing it.

WhataSook · 08/12/2013 09:41

Unlike Tee I plan to apply for citizenship as soon as I can. I think the rules can be changed re ILTR and having read on another topic of a British woman who now cant return to the UK with her DH as he previously had ILTR and didnt apply for citizenship before leaving the country. ..

But agree with pp, he's been a dick and will now have to face the consequences. I hope the family aren't split up though.

GiveItYourBestFucker · 08/12/2013 09:42

The rowers are not responsible for the UK's class system in the same way that (eg) whalers are responsible for killing whales. Disrupting a whale hunt is brave. Disrupting a rowing race is selfish. Being responsible for his serious injury or his death would have marked one of the crews for the rest of their lives.

Methe · 08/12/2013 09:48

We ought to be immediately deporting any migrants who are convicted of crimes.

As someone up thread said., we've got enough twats of our own without taking on twats from other countries.

GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 08/12/2013 09:48

As in moving to another country, WhataSook? We have no plans to do that, so I'm not worried.

Also, I have no money for citizenship. We went into debt to pay for my ILTR and previous visas.

Finally, I refuse to be a citizen of a country that insists on my taking a test current citizens can't pass in order to become a citizen!