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A Kosovan drug addict and serial criminal with a “terrible offending history” has been granted the right to remain in the United Kingdom after a judge ruled that deporting her would breach her human rights. Barbara Osmanovic, 40, who has been convicted 13 times for 29 separate offences, successfully argued that she is “culturally and socially integrated” into Britain and would face undue hardship if returned to her native country, a decision that has reignited debate over the balance between national security and individual rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The ruling, which was delivered by an immigration tribunal and upheld after a Home Office appeal was rejected, has sparked criticism from those who argue the UK’s justice and welfare systems are being exploited. The tribunal heard that Osmanovic, a heroin and cocaine addict of Roma heritage, arrived in the UK as a child in 2000 with her family and was granted leave to remain in 2006. However, her offending began “almost immediately,” according to the tribunal, and there is no evidence that she has made a “positive contribution” to life in the UK.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Osmanovic’s criminal career has been marked by a series of “mean” offences targeting the most vulnerable members of society. In April 2023, she was jailed for two and a half years at Manchester Crown Court for theft, fraud, attempted burglary, and possession of a knife. The court heard how she undertook a campaign to steal cash from disabled and elderly people.
In one particularly callous incident, she approached a woman in a wheelchair and stole her purse, which contained a photograph of her parents, before spending £1,640 on her bank card. She also targeted an elderly woman shopping at Marks and Spencer’s, stealing her purse, and attempted to break into another woman’s house. On a separate occasion, she was found carrying a knife when searched by police in a car park at a Premier Inn.
Despite this litany of offences, the tribunal ruled that deporting her would be “unduly harsh” under Article 8 of the ECHR, which protects the right to private and family life. The judge accepted that Osmanovic does not speak Albanian, lacks any meaningful support network in Kosovo, and would have difficulty obtaining documentation to access healthcare. The tribunal also noted that as a Roma woman with deformed feet and mental health problems, she would likely be homeless and face “significant difficulties” in Kosovo.
The case has raised serious questions about how the UK’s immigration and legal systems interpret the concept of “integration.” The judge ruled that “despite her criminality and chaotic lifestyle,” Osmanovic is “socially and culturally integrated into the UK.” This assessment was made even though she has worked only in short-term cleaning roles at Poundland, B&M, and Manchester City Stadium, some lasting just a few days, and has no stable housing.
Daily Dazzling Dawn learned that the Home Office had sought to deport her in 2023 due to her persistent offending, but the tribunal’s decision to block the removal has been criticised as a failure to prioritise public safety. The judge also stated it was “too soon” to determine if she was no longer a persistent offender, a remark that has fuelled concerns that the system is too lenient on repeat offenders who exploit welfare and legal protections.
The case echoes similar controversies where foreign criminals have avoided deportation by citing human rights grounds, often leading to public outcry over the perceived abuse of the UK’s justice and welfare systems. Critics argue that such rulings send a dangerous message that criminal behaviour is not a bar to remaining in the country, and that the taxpayer is left to foot the bill for legal aid and potential welfare support.
The Home Office’s appeal against the tribunal’s decision was rejected, meaning Osmanovic will remain in the UK. The department has not commented on whether it will pursue further legal avenues, but the case is likely to intensify calls for reform of the Human Rights Act and the UK’s immigration laws.
Speaking to journalists, a Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual cases, but we are committed to removing foreign criminals who pose a threat to the public.” However, the tribunal’s ruling highlights the complex legal hurdles the government faces in deporting individuals who have established long-standing ties to the UK, even when those ties are built on a foundation of criminality.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Osmanovic did not attend her appeal hearing because she did not have a working phone and her solicitors were unable to contact her. This detail has further undermined confidence in the system, as it suggests a lack of accountability and engagement from the appellant herself, yet the tribunal still ruled in her favour.
The case of Barbara Osmanovic is not an isolated incident but part of a wider pattern that has seen foreign criminals use human rights legislation to block deportation. It raises fundamental questions about the balance between the rights of the individual and the safety of the public, and whether the UK’s welfare and justice systems are being exploited by those who have repeatedly shown disregard for the law.
As the government continues to grapple with immigration and crime, this ruling will undoubtedly be cited by those demanding tougher measures to ensure that foreign criminals are removed swiftly. For now, Osmanovic remains in the UK, a free woman despite her 29 offences, and a symbol of the legal and moral complexities that define the UK’s approach to deportation.
