Albanian criminal 'avoids deportation because video calls would be ‘harsh’ on stepson'
17 March 2025, 14:12 | Updated: 17 March 2025, 16:28
An Albanian criminal was allowed to remain in the UK after a judge ruled that long-distance Zoom calls would be ‘too harsh’ on his stepson.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
Dritan Mazreku, 29, took on a ‘paternal role’ for his son, 15, when he entered a relationship with the boys mother 10 years ago, a tribunal heard.
He was later jailed and faced deportation, but a judge ruled he could remain in the country because it would be ‘unduly harsh’ on his stepson if he was removed, the Telegraph reports.
The judge said that “modern means” of communication were “no substitute” for physical presence and visiting Albania regularly would be ‘unmanageable’.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper argued against the decision and said that he could continue to support his stepson from Albania, but this was dismissed and he was allowed to stay in the UK.
Read more: Albanian criminal’s deportation halted because son doesn't like foreign chicken nuggets
It comes after a criminal avoided deportation because his son didn’t like foreign chicken nuggets.
It is not clear what crime Mazreku committed, however he was left facing deportation. The Home Secretary appealed the decision, arguing that the judge had erred in law.
“Limited weight can be given to [Mazreku] keeping his stepson safe bearing in mind his conviction.” It was argued that he did not provide support to his stepson during his incarceration or during a period of separation from the boy’s mother.
However the decision not to deport him was upheld.
In February it emerged that an Albanian criminal had his deportation halted partly because his son had a distaste for foreign chicken nuggets.
A tribunal heard that Klevis Disha, 39, entered the UK illegally as an unaccompanied minor. He later gave a fake name and falsely claimed to be born in the former Yugoslavia.
Disha, was stripped of his citizenship in 2021 after serving two years in prison when he was caught with £300,000 known to be proceeds of crime.
Following his conviction it was found he had acquired his citizenship “through deception”.
But an immigration tribunal ruled it would be "unduly harsh" for his 10-year-old son, known as 'C' in court documents, to return to Albania with his father owing to food sensitivities, sensory issues and difficulties communicating emotions.
