3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News

Let us know you agree to cookies

We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Please let us know if you agree to all of these
cookies.

Yes, I agree
No, take me to settings

Home News More

Menu

England Local News Regions Beds, Herts & Bucks

Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge

to try to rescue daughter
By Helena Wilkinson

BBC News

18 minutes ago

Russia-Ukraine war

SBNA

The judge said "simple humanity" meant he had to give Olga Khomenko a suspended jail sentence

A mother convicted of abducting her daughter has had her two year prison
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 1/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News
A mother convicted of abducting her daughter has had her two-year prison
sentence suspended so she can try to rescue the girl from war-torn Ukraine.

Olga Khomenko, 37, admitted child abduction at St Albans Crown Court.

The court heard Khomenko, a Ukrainian national, took her daughter out of the
UK in 2017 in breach of a court order.

Judge Michael Kay QC, said he had "never known a sentencing exercise in
which the issue of saving a child in a foreign country" had been a factor.

He sentenced Khomenko to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

The judge said "simple humanity" informed him that the only appropriate
sentence would be one which was suspended.
The court heard there had been an acrimonious breakdown between the
child's father and mother.

Prosecutor Rebecca Fairbairn told the court the defendant was arrested after a
European Arrest Warrant was issued in 2019.

In a victim impact statement the child's father said the defendant's actions had
left him in "severe distress".

SBNA

Judge Michael Kay QC said the sentence he handed down was a "one off" in a "unique situation"

Defence barrister Stephen Vullo QC asked the judge to suspend any sentence
because his client was the child's best chance of escaping the war in Ukraine.

He told the court the girl was living with her grandmother "within earshot of
missiles raining down".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 2/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Kay said the court was faced with an
"extraordinary situation" where there was a mother in this country and a child
in Ukraine in a war-zone.

He added: "It's a decision that I'd be amazed if any crown court has made
before.

"These are extraordinary times."

The judge said the sentence he handed down was a "one-off" in a "unique
situation".

"If there is any chance of the child being saved the court must take it," he
added.

At the end of the sentence hearing, the judge said he wished the defendant
"every success" in trying to get her daughter out of Ukraine.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you
have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

Related Internet Links

HM Courts & Tribunals Service

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Related Topics

Russia-Ukraine war Ukraine

From other local news sites

Hertfordshire Constabularly Multiple injured after mass brawl inside Slug and
Lettuce in St Albans Harry Rutter

Herts Advertiser

High Wycombe parking: Philip Road van ‘putting children in danger’

Bucks Free Press

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 3/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News

The cheapest places to get petrol in Bucks right now

Bucks Free Press

Section 60 Stop and Search Order extended again after violent incidents in Milton
Keynes

Milton Keynes Citizen

Kyle Walker-Peters urges Southampton to put Newcastle defeat behind them

Borehamwood Times

UPDATE: Almost 240 people test positive for Covid as cases rise in Bedford
Bedford Today

Information about BBC links to other news sites

Top Stories

LIVE US warns Russia may be planning Ukraine escalation

Satellites show Russia convoy regrouping near Kyiv

10 hours ago

UK sanctions Russian MPs over Ukraine invasion

3 hours ago

Features

How much Russian money is there in Tears and frustration at UK visa centre
the UK? in Poland

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 4/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News

Kuenssberg: Details of Ukraine refugee Watch: Into no-man's land with the
plan emerge Ukrainian army

What sanctions are being imposed on Can the energy crisis help the climate?
Russia?

UK reports 72,898 cases on Friday 'Squat lobster' photobombs Shackleton's

Endurance

Quiz of the week: Who helped Dolly

write a novel?

Elsewhere on the BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 5/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News
Elsewhere on the BBC

Can flying ever be green? From Milan to Sicily...

The CEO of Easyjet, Johan Lundgren, chats to Stanley Tucci travels across Italy to discover the
Deborah Meaden country’s history and culture

Sit back, relax and enjoy a film!

There's something for everyone on BBC iPlayer

Most Read

1 Covid infections rising again across UK - ONS

2 Bitcoin cash machines ordered to shut down

3 India accidentally fires missile into Pakistan

4 Putin seeks foreign volunteers to fight in Ukraine

5 I’m not a UK security risk, Russian-born peer says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 6/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News

6 Mystery drone from Ukraine war crashes in Croatia

7 UK reports 72,898 cases on Friday

8 Queen pulls out of attending Commonwealth service

9 Satellites show Russia convoy regrouping near Kyiv

10 US to ban Russian diamond and vodka imports

BBC News Services

On your mobile

On smart speakers

Get news alerts

Contact BBC News

Best of BBC Sounds

The best tax tips you need..

ASK MARTIN LEWIS

What happens if Kyiv falls?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 7/8
3/11/22, 6:53 PM Ukrainian mother freed by St Albans judge to try to rescue daughter - BBC News

UKRAINECAST

Should we follow the 5 second rule?

MORE OR LESS

Do you want your money to go further?

THE BIG GREEN MONEY SHOW

Home Weather CBBC Bitesize Local

News iPlayer CBeebies Arts Three

Sport Sounds Food Taster

Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance

Contact the BBC Get Personalised Newsletters Why you can trust the BBC

© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external
linking.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60715167 8/8