Migrant criminal who stole from disabled woman cannot be deported because she is 'culturally and socially integrated' in Britain

A migrant criminal who stole from a disabled woman cannot be deported because she is "culturally and socially integrated" in Britain, a judge has ruled.

Barbara Osmanovic, 40, who has 13 previous convictions, arrived in Britain from Kosovo in 2000 with her family before being granted leave to remain six years later.

An immigration tribunal was told the heroin and cocaine addict's offending began "almost immediately" after she set foot in the country.

The tribunal also heard there is little evidence to suggest Osmanovic has made a "positive contribution" to life in Britain in her 26-year stay in the country, The Daily Mail reports.

The 40-year-old is believed to have worked several cleaning jobs in Birmingham and Manchester, including in Poundland and B&M stores, holding a number of roles for just a matter of days.

The Kosovan migrant of Roma heritage is said to have stolen money from vulnerable people as part of a "mean" campaign.

Osmanovic previously stole £1,640 from a wheelchair-bound woman after approaching her, before snatching her purse and using her bank card.

She was jailed for two-and-a-half years in April 2023 after being convicted of theft, fraud, attempted burglary and possession of a knife.

The same year, the Home Office launched a bid to remove the criminal from Britain due to her persistent offending.

However, she was allowed to stay in the country following an immigration tribunal, with an appeal from the Home Office also rejected.

A judge ruled that sending Osmanovic back to Kosovo would be "unduly harsh" under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.

The ruling came after the tribunal heard the 40-year-old would struggle to adapt to life in her homeland due to her integration into the UK.

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The tribunal was told she does not speak the Albanian language or have a support network in Kosovo, and it would be difficult for her to get hold of documents that would allow her to receive healthcare.

The judge said deportation would be unfair on Osmanovic due to her history of mental health problems, her deformed feet and the likelihood of homelessness in her native country.

She was also likely to "face significant difficulties obtaining the documentation necessary to reside lawfully and access healthcare", the judge said.

The 40-year-old was not present for her own appeal after solicitors could not contact her as she did not have access to a working phone.

In 2023, Osmanovic's lawyer admitted she had a "sorry history of offending" in Britain.

They added that the "meanest" of her theft and fraud offences were carried out to fund her drug addiction.

On top of stealing from a wheelchair-bound woman, the Kosovan migrant also swiped a purse from a pensioner while she had been shopping at an M&S store.

The 40-year-old was also found carrying a knife in a Premier Inn car park and attempted to break in to another woman's home.