A man left his partner and two kids for a Ukrainian refugee, who moved in with the family ten days before their departure . Tony Garnett, 29, walked out on Lorna, 28, after falling for Sofiia Karkadym who had fled the horrors of her hometown Lviv, Ukraine, at the start of the invasion.
As reported by Somerset Live, the security guard had initially signed up for the Government’s rehoming scheme last month but became inpatient so reached out to the 22-year-old on social media to help. Tony, from Bradford, West Yorks, became Sofiia’s sponsor and just over a week after she arrived he left his family for a new life.
He told The Sun: “It began with a simple desire from me to do the right thing and put a roof over the head of someone in need.
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"We’re sorry for the pain we’ve caused but I’ve discovered a connection with Sofiia like I’ve never had before.”
Tony’s now ex-partner Lorna said she grew fed up at the immediate close bond he gained with Sofiia, as the two would go to the gym together and sit for hours talking in a car park.
Eventually, she ordered their guest to leave, but was stunned when Tony announced he was leaving too, with the pair moving into his parents’ home. They are now in the process of finding a new home together.
Lorna told the Sun: "‘She set her sights on Anthony from the start, decided she wanted him and she took him."
According to Lorna, Sofiia wore no make-up, did not do her hair and made no effort with her appearance during the day.
But she said that changed after 5pm when Tony was due to come home. She claims she would come downstairs in red lippy, with her hair done and wearing a low-cut top.
Around 33,000 Ukrainians are said to be in the UK as a result of the Russian invasion and war in the country. Current estimates suggest more than 6.4million people have left Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February.
More than 500 Ukrainian refugees are expected to come to the Bristol region, the local authorities have said.
Last month, the city's mayor said that a total of 150 Ukrainian refugees are expected to come to Bristol, with some having already arrived. No updated figures have been released by the council since, but the council said today (April 12) that 270 hosts in Bristol have signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
