Michael handed 11th hour reprieve

From the archive, first published Wednesday 28th Mar 2007.

A Bradford man due to be deported at 10am tomorrow has won an eleventh hour reprieve.

Michael Bourne's family, friends and neighbours are celebrating after Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South, intervened.

Mr Sutcliffe asked Immigration Minister Liam Byrne to allow Mr Bourne to make his case to stay, and shortly before 3pm news came through that Mr Sutcliffe had succeeded.

Mr Bourne, 47, of Wareham Corner, Holme Wood, Bradford, can now make a full legal application to stay in the country.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "I feel natural justice demands Mr Bourne be given temporary leave to remain in the UK to enable his case to be given proper consideration, taking account of all relevant facts.

"It is clear from the enormous support he has received that he is a well liked and respected member of his local community."

Mr Bourne was handcuffed at an immigration office in Leeds a week ago, just days after the Home Office granted him a temporary stay.

He came to the country ten years ago to study law.

His fiancee Barbara Firth, 46, handed petitions and letters of support to the couple's solicitor Aurangzeb Khan.

Mr Khan is now applying for bail for Mr Bourne.

Miss Firth said: "I jumped up an down with excitement when I heard the news. Now he's not on that plane we have a fighting chance."