Award winning wedding cake designer faces threat of deportation

An award-winning cake maker from Aldeburgh is fighting to stay in the UK after expressing fears that she might be deported back to her native South Africa.

Anmar Robinson, originally from South Africa, arrived to the UK on a spouse visa in 2010 and soon qualified for indefinite leave to remain after completing her probationary period of two years. However, after the breakdown of her marriage, Mrs Robison now faces the real threat of deportation once her current visa expires next month.

However, in the years of her stay in the UK, Mrs Robinson has created a successful wedding cake company that has been recognised across England for its taste and designs. CRUMB - Bespoke Suffolk Cakes recently won Best Wedding Cake Designer in the East of England at the Wedding Industry Awards. Alongside her cake company, Mrs Robinson is also the founder of the Suffolk Coastal sisterhood branch of the WI and a member of the Aldeburgh Business Association. She also works as a sous chef at the White Lion Hotel.

Speaking about her case, Mrs Robinson said: "Obviously my business means the world to me. I have built it up from scratch and I am going to extreme lengths to try and save it. I have worked extremely hard since day one in the UK. I have been offered investment and if I can stay I will be able to open a premises and employ people, which will add even more to our community and the economy.

“The Border Agency has asked for me to prove to them that I have built a ‘private life’ in the UK by collecting letters of support from everyone I know. The people of Aldeburgh have really taken my story to heart and the response has been massive.”

She has an appointment to meet with Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey to discuss her case later in the week.

A spokesperson from the UKBA said: “Mrs Robinson has not been told to leave the UK. The UK Border Agency has provided her with information explaining the options open to her and we will consider any application she submits. At present we have no record of having received an application from her to extend her stay in the UK.”

Support Mrs Robinson's campaign to stay in the UK by visiting her website, by email or follow her campaign in progress on Twitter.