Refugee from Kosovo weds woman who fostered him as a teenager

 Add your view

It could hardly have been a quieter wedding, with just two witnesses, one bridesmaid and a dog.

But that was the way Julia Gregg, 34, wanted it when she married 21-year-old Krenar Lleshi - seven years after she and her ex-husband took him into their home as a foster son.

The couple looked after the teenage Kosovan after he was smuggled into Britain in the back of a lorry.

Scroll down for more ...

Happy together: Julia Gregg and Krenar Llashi after their wedding ceremony on Christmas Eve

Miss Gregg grew increasingly attached to Krenar as he battled to be allowed to stay in the country.

After she and her husband Steve Crandon, 38, split up, she began a love affair with Krenar when he turned 19 and a year later they had a child together.

The couple married on Christmas Eve at their local church, St Anne's in Nantyglo, South Wales, with their one-year- old daughter, Hattie, as bridesmaid, and their dog, Cupe (the name is Albanian for "little girl") as a guest.

Yesterday the new Mrs Lleshi said: "There were a lot of shocked faces when we said we were getting married. I know how much people have gossiped about us and we wanted it to be a very special, very private occasion.

"I didn't even tell my sisters. When they found out they were shocked. I wanted to keep it as something between me and Krenar."

Scroll down for more ...

Happy family: Krenar, who works as a plumber, is proud of their one-year-old daugther, Hattie

She added: "It was one of the happiest days of my life. It felt wonderful as I said my vows to Krenar. We were both very emotional. It was very important to us to be married. It's lovely to finally show the world how in love we are."

Shocked: Ex-husband Steve Crandon said he felt like a 'fool' when he found out

Krenar, who works as a plumber, simply said: "I am really happy with Julia and Hattie."

But, hardly surprisingly, Mr Crandon, a pub landlord, has been unable to share in their joy.

Speaking earlier this year, he said: "The lad who I'd treated like a son had been in bed with the woman I loved. I felt like such a fool and began to think back to all the times they had spent together on their own.

"When she told me I just sat open-mouthed. He was 12 years younger than her but more importantly he was our son.

"I was in shock that my wife was sleeping with my foster son.

"I still find it hard to believe that the two people I was closest to could do such a thing."

Mr Crandon and his ex-wife had fostered more than 20 teenagers at their home at Ebbw Vale, South Wales, although they had no children of their own.

Krenar arrived in Britain in 1999 after stowing away in the back of a lorry. He was taken into local authority care, then fostered by the couple.

Scroll down for more ...

A year after the adoption: Foster dad Steve Crandon (left) wife Julia and foster son Krenar, aged 15, in 2001. Krenar's friend Edmond Pone is in the beige suit (far right)

Both foster parents fought to keep Krenar in Britain, describing him as a "model citizen".

Eventually Krenar was given "exceptional leave" to stay in Britain by the Home Office because all his family had also fled Kosovo, and there was no one for him to return to.

He continued to live with his foster parents. Miss Gregg insists that she only fell for Krenar after her marriage failed.

"It might not have been the most conventional start to a relationship but we are just like any other family with the same hopes and dreams," she said.

"Our relationship began a long time after the breakdown of my marriage. We are very proud parents."

 

What's on today   What's on tomorrow

Receive our newsletter