Man who's lived here for 34 years faces deportation

A dad who has bought a house, got married, worked and even voted in the UK since moving here at six months old is now banned from employment and could face deportation – because the Home Office allegedly cannot find his records.

Dad-of-six Darren Harrety, 34, was born in the British colony of Punta Gorda in Belize, Central America, in March 1982, six months after the country was granted independence.

As a baby his mum Angelica Harrety travelled to England with him and his siblings on a Belize passport – issued to replace her British one when the country gained independence – which was stamped with indefinite leave to stay in the UK.

But that passport was lost in the move, and now Darren has been told he cannot work or apply to be a British citizen because the Home Office are unable to find proof of his arrival into the country.

Darren, from Nelson, Lancs, said:

Darren’s mum, then Angelica Kyte-Powell, came to the UK with the help of the SSAFA military charity in 1982 after her husband, ex-British soldier Roy Kyte-Powell, was shot dead in Belize.

She remarried Darren’s stepdad Ray Harrety – with Darren, his brother and sister changing their surname to reflect this – and the family settled in Hartlepool in the North East.

Darren never his own passport or driving licence but using his birth certificate as identification he was able to vote, get married, hold bank accounts, work and even buy his own home aged 20.

But five years ago in summer 2011 Darren, who previously worked at a DIY store and as a window cleaner, had his employment terminated two weeks into a new job in merchandising.

The company told him he was not legally allowed to work in the UK and Darren claims the Home Office told him they were unable to find any details of him entering the country.

Darren, who wants a UK passport, said he has been told his applications for British nationality have failed because there is not enough evidence he is a British citizen – despite his birth certificate being stamped by the British Embassy – but neither can he apply for a Belize passport.

The dad to one-year-old Nevaeh, Corbin, two, Joshua, seven, and Branden, eight, with nursery nurse wife Kathryn Harrety, 28, dreams of working as a handyman or painter and decorator.

He said:

Darren, who also has two children from previous relationships, 10-year-old Ebony Robinson and Daniel Berry, 15, has now launched a petition and crowd-funding appeal.

His MP Andrew Stephenson said in a letter dated June 2014 he was “disappointed” with the lack of progress in Darren’s case.

In it, the Conservative MP for Pendle, said:

A Home Office spokesman said:

To support Darren’s petition, which has nearly 1,200 supporters, go here and to donate to his fund which has so far raised £475 of its £1,449 target go to here