Romance Fraudster Who Scammed Women Out of £200,000 Spared Deportation Due to Family’s NHS Needs

A convicted fraudster who scammed women out of nearly £200,000 has won a legal battle to remain in the UK after a tribunal ruled that deporting him to Nigeria would be too harsh on his British wife and children, who rely on NHS care.

Emmanuel Jack, 35, was jailed for three years in 2014 after posing as an architect on dating websites to con six vulnerable women into handing over £186,000. He came to Britain from Nigeria in 1997 and was granted indefinite leave to remain before later obtaining British citizenship.

Following his conviction, the Home Office revoked his citizenship and ordered his deportation in 2022. However, Mr Jack argued that his removal would cause undue hardship to his family, as his wife and children suffer from serious medical conditions requiring specialist treatment.

Tribunal Rules in Jack’s Favour

An immigration and asylum tribunal in London ruled in Mr Jack’s favour, citing the family’s dependency on the NHS. Judges Victor Rae-Reeves and Luke Bulpitt found that his deportation would significantly disrupt ongoing medical care for his wife and children.

The tribunal heard that Mr Jack’s wife suffers from complications related to pregnancy, while his 18-month-old son, who was born prematurely, has serious developmental issues requiring close supervision. His six-year-old daughter also has eyesight problems.

Additionally, Mr Jack provides care for his wife’s 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. In a letter to the tribunal, she described his crucial role in their lives, stating, “The family would fall apart without him.”

‘Exceptionally Close Bonds’ in the Family

The judges highlighted the family’s strong emotional and psychological ties, noting that Mr Jack is a “loving and very hands-on father” whose absence could have a detrimental impact on his children’s well-being.

“We find that the strength and depth of [his] relationships with his wife and children, and the close involvement he has had in their care over a prolonged period, mean it is highly likely that the young children would suffer an emotional, psychological, and practical impact as a result of [his] removal that is unduly harsh,” the ruling stated.

Despite acknowledging the public interest in deporting foreign criminals, the tribunal ultimately concluded that Mr Jack’s removal would have “a very great emotional and psychological impact” on his family, justifying his right to stay in the UK.

DAILY MAIL