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A former squaddie who changed his surname to 'Fu-Kennard' for a laugh has told how the joke has backfired - after he was denied a passport.

Kenny, 33, whose surname used to be Kennard, changed his name using a deed poll in 2016 and even got a driving license under his new moniker.

But when his passport expired and he applied for a new one this year, his application was denied because his name "may cause offence".

The supermarket worker from Bude, Cornwall, has contested HM Passport Office's verdict three times- but the Home Office has refused to budge.

Keen traveller Kenny said he doesn't want to change his name again - so faces a life of UK holidays instead.

He said: "I'd decided to change my name to Fu-Kennard a few years back.

"When I'd had to apply for a driving licence, it was accepted fine, so I figured it wouldn't make much difference in applying for a passport.

"How wrong I was!

"I got refused on grounds that my name could cause offence or was vulgar.

"So I complained, but they upheld their decision so I complained again. I was then told they'd keep the fee for administration costs.

"If I wanted to take the matter further, they said I'd need to contact my MP.

"So I wrote to MP Scott Mann, and he replied saying they're within their remit to refuse.

"Now I'm skint with no passport, like a prisoner in my own country.

"On the one hand, I find the whole thing funny - as do all of my friends.

"But I'm also finding it hard to believe the name could be construed as anything but funny and slightly ridiculous. It's just a joke.

"I agree with Home Office policy that not all names are acceptable, such as racial hate words or anything that invokes hatred.

"'Fu-Kennard' is not offensive, and I object to them denying my chosen name."

Kenny first changed his name to 'Coco Kenny' when he was 16, but after he joined the Army aged 19 he said he was told to change it back because it was "immature".

After eight years serving his country, Kenny decided to "change it to something with a bit of 'fun' about it".

Knowing that he'd be applying for 'normal' jobs, he knew to "play it a bit safe" - and settled for 'Fu-Kennard' because "not everyone gets the joke".

"Life's too short to be boring," he said.

Kenny successfully applied for a driving licence in 2016, so had no reason to suspect that it would be any different applying for a passport.

But the Home Office dismissed his application on three occasions in May, June and July this year, citing Section 2 on its longstanding policy on changing names.

The official guidelines list a series of "names that may cause outrage or offence" that could be classed as "unacceptable" and not fit for a passport.

They include: "the use of swear words; sexually explicit references; inappropriate religious connotation; is vulgar, offensive, or libellous to an individual; makes use of a name of a person living or dead which may cause public concern".

The guidance also states: "This applies to phonetic, as well as actual use of words comprising of part or the entire name."

In a letter dated June 25, the office even advised that it would even retain Kenny's £94.75 application fee "to cover the costs of administration".

Bemused and bewildered, Kenny wrote to local Tory MP Scott Mann, whose office also supported HM Passport Office's decision.

The July 29 letter from Mr Mann's office stated - under Section 2 of Home Office policy, concerning 'unacceptable names' - HM Passport Office was "within its remit to refuse your request for a passport under the name you have chosen".

Kenny said the Home Office has told him it will only proceed with an application for a passport if he either changed his name to one that was acceptable - or uses his previous name.

Their letter dated July 11 stated: "Your application is deemed to contain a name, which may cause offence to individuals and the wider public.

"The passport is not an appropriate vehicle to carry names which may be considered as distasteful or vulgar. The application will be failed and the fee retained, in line with HM Passport Office procedure, to cover the costs of administration."

But the wacky retailer is shocked by the Home Office decision, and said he's been left "stumped at what I can do - live without a passport?"

Kenny, who loves to travel and last went on holiday to Sri Lanka months before his passport expired, now can't holiday abroad.

Kenny said: "Without a passport, I can't go on holiday abroad.

"I live in a seaside town, but have always enjoyed travelling.

"My last holiday - to Sri Lanka - was about three years ago. But there are so many countries I'd still like to visit, such as Cambodia.

"I went camping down Sennen Beach last month for my week off. For my next leave, I have no plans as my options are limited.

"I have a stag do in three weeks, for instance. When the best man was deciding what to do for it, he knew I couldn't travel - so he settled on Cardiff instead.

"I don't know what else I can do to escalate the situation with HM Passport Office, because no one has advised me how else I can challenge the verdict.

"I only have one red line, though - I'm keeping my surname.

"I don't want to change it again, especially because they're restricting my freedom.

"I like Fu-Kennard."