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A British businessman living in Ukraine today said he will sue the Government after his wife was refused a visa for a family trip to Britain.

Richard Spinks, chief executive of a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, fought a 10-year battle with the Home Office to get UK passports for his sons — which they now have.

He wanted to bring Filip, 11, and seven-year-old Maksym to the UK for Christmas with his Ukrainian wife Tetyana, 40. But it emerged today that she has been banned from entering the country because of concerns about her finance for the trip.

A rejection letter from the Home Office, seen by the Standard, states that officials are not satisfied she will be “adequately maintained and accommodated or will be able to meet the cost of your return or onward journey”.

It adds: “There is no right of appeal or right to administrative review.”

Mr Spinks, who runs British biomass firm Active Energy Group, vowed to file a claim because of continued breaches of his human rights. He said: “It is ridiculous. If I were to die tomorrow she’d be a multi-millionaire. My wife filed her visa application in Kiev having paid more than €1,000 along with evidence of over £2 million of assets.

“She enclosed details of my position as chief executive officer of a London Stock Exchange-listed company with associated income and equity holdings, not to mention options and warrants.

“She enclosed invitations from two close family members, one of whom we would be staying with for the duration. The idea she would not be supported financially is simply laughable.”

Mr Spinks’s battles with the Government began 11 years ago when he first tried to secure a UK passport for his eldest son. Last year the Standard reported how fighters from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine stormed his property and threatened to kill his staff. The family fled to the west of the country after pro-Russian rebels accused him of being a spy.

He claimed his family feared for their lives but were unable to travel to Britain because of administrative errors. Visa rejection letters in 2010 said there was not enough evidence the family would be supported financially in Britain. In 2013 Mrs Spinks, a Ukrainian antiques dealer who had homes in London, reapplied but was denied. Mr Spinks, 50, said his sons finally received passports last year after he spent about £120,000 on his fight with the Government.

The businessman, who is originally from Kent and was once in the RAF, said: “I’m going to sue the Government and I’m going to continue until I win.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “All UK visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with UK immigration rules and guidance.”