Drug dealer’s ‘right to family life’

A JAMAICAN drug offender has fought a three-year appeal against deportation by claiming he has a right to a family life – despite his partner making abuse allegations against him.

The Home Office ordered O’Neil Martin be deported after he was jailed for possession of cocaine with intent to supply, cannabis possession and driving without a licence in 2019.

But the 42-year-old has continued to live in Bristol for three more years due to court delays and a legal mistake made by a judge. When his human rights appeal was dismissed, he took his case to the Upper Tribunal, this time winning and forcing a fresh hearing.

Judge Stout, in a judgment published on May 19, said the first appeal had failed to determine if his crimes ‘caused serious harm’. She said the next hearing would need to consider ‘the differing needs, ages and circumstances of the four children involved’.