Albanian Burglar Deported for Fifth Time Amid Legal Battle Over Secrecy

A 32-year-old Albanian national, Dorian Puka, has been deported from the UK for the fifth time. The decision followed a legal challenge by the Daily Mail, which successfully argued against Puka's bid for anonymity. Puka had appealed his latest deportation and applied for asylum, claiming his life would be at risk if he returned to Albania.

During a hearing in London last month, Puka's lawyers sought anonymity for him, arguing that publicizing his location could endanger him. However, a judge revoked the anonymity order after the Daily Mail presented evidence that Puka had filmed a video of himself inside the Taylor House Immigration Tribunal Centre and shared it on social media. This act also violated a ban on photography and filming within court buildings, carrying a potential penalty of up to two years in prison for contempt of court.

Judge Ravinder Bagral acknowledged the breach, stating, "I accept that the image was taken in the waiting area at Taylor House, which is clearly identifiable." He added, "I therefore accept that the appellant placed his attendance at the tribunal in the public domain."

Puka first entered the UK illegally between 2012 and 2013 as a teenager. His criminal history in the UK includes four prison sentences for burglary and related offenses. His first sentence was in January 2016 for burglary, after which he was deported. He subsequently re-entered the UK illegally, leading to a second burglary conviction in November 2016 and another deportation.

He returned illegally for a third time and was arrested in November 2017. Following convictions for burglary, theft, and driving offenses, he received a 42-month sentence and was deported in December 2018. He again entered the UK illegally, leading to his arrest in August 2019 for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and going equipped for theft. This resulted in an 18-month prison sentence and his fourth deportation on July 29, 2020.

Puka admitted to re-entering the UK illegally on October 15, 2021. This time, he attempted to remain in the country by applying for leave to remain in December 2022 and then for asylum in July 2023. The Home Office rejected his asylum claim in September 2024, prompting his appeal.

During the hearing, Home Office representative Khdeeja Khan questioned Puka about his repeated offenses and illegal border breaches. Puka acknowledged his crimes were serious but claimed he was compelled to return to the UK due to fears for his safety from an Albanian crime gang he had allegedly fallen victim to as a teenager. He asserted that he and his family were targeted when he attempted to leave the gang, and each deportation led to him fleeing Albania within weeks due to perceived threats.

Ms. Khan challenged Puka's claims, noting a lack of evidence of threats and his failure to report any. She also questioned his extensive social media activity, suggesting it contradicted his claims of living in fear. Judge Bagral ultimately dismissed Puka's appeal, stating he did not accept the appellant's narrative regarding gang involvement, coercion, or ongoing threats in Albania. The judge found "no compelling circumstances capable of outweighing the substantial public interest in his deportation."

Puka had gained notoriety for flaunting his wealth on social media, posting images of himself with luxury cars, in nightclubs, and even feeding banknotes to his dogs. His social media posts were seen as a challenge to authorities. IMAGE2 IMAGE1 IMAGE6