Bradford’s father, 29, leaves the mother of his children for a 22-year-old Ukrainian refugee, whom they took in just 10 days earlier

A Bradford man left the mother of his two children for a Ukrainian refugee who had only moved in with them ten days earlier.

Tony Garnett, 29, left his partner Lorna, 28, for Sofia Karkadym after moving in with them under the government’s refugee repatriation programme. Sofia had fled the horrors of her hometown Lviv at the start of the invasion and made her way to Bradford via Berlin.

Tony, a security guard, originally signed up for the program last month but became hospitalized so he took to social media to offer help, The mirror reports.

Read more: Airbnb host called Bradford’s mother ‘fatso’ after complaining about her pet rats

Tony became Sofia’s godfather and a little over a week after arriving at their home, he decided to leave his partner and children for a new life.

Talk to The sunTony said: “It started with a simple desire on my part to do the right thing and put a roof over the head of someone in need, male or female.



Refugee Sofia Karkadym was kicked out of the house after ten days – with Tony leaving with her

“It came to a head last Saturday when she (Lorna) really went looking for Sofia, yelling at her, using harsh language that left her in tears. She said she no longer felt able to stay under our roof and something inside me clicked.

“We are sorry for the pain we have caused, but I have discovered a connection with Sofia like I have never had before.”

Sofia, 22, summed up the situation by saying “these things happen”. She added, “As soon as I saw it, I loved it.

“It was very quick but it’s our love story. I know people will think badly of me but it happens.”



Sofia had escaped the horrors of Lviv at the start of the invasion
Sofia had escaped the horrors of Lviv at the start of the invasion

Tension rose in the house after Lorna, now Tony’s ex-partner, grew fed up with the immediate close bond he gained with Sofia. The two would go to the gym together and sit for hours talking in a parking lot.

Eventually, she ordered Sofiaa to leave, but was stunned when Tony announced he was also leaving, with the couple sleeping at her parents’ house.

They are now in the process of finding a new home together.

Read next:

Comments are closed.