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| Mike Tyson banned from UK over rape conviction | Mike Tyson banned from UK over rape conviction |
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| Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has been forced to scrap appearances in London after discovering he is banned from entering the UK because of a rape conviction. | |
| The 47-year-old was due in the capital this week as part of a promotional tour for his autobiography Undisputed Truth, which included a photocall with journalists and a book signing at Waterstones. | The 47-year-old was due in the capital this week as part of a promotional tour for his autobiography Undisputed Truth, which included a photocall with journalists and a book signing at Waterstones. |
| His publishers said recent changes to UK immigration laws meant he was unable to travel to the country and he had been re-routed to Paris instead. | His publishers said recent changes to UK immigration laws meant he was unable to travel to the country and he had been re-routed to Paris instead. |
| Posts on Tyson's official Twitter account as recently as Friday suggest the boxer was unaware he would be hit by the changes. | Posts on Tyson's official Twitter account as recently as Friday suggest the boxer was unaware he would be hit by the changes. |
| He wrote: "So, UK fans, who is brave enough to get in the ring and ask me a question?" | He wrote: "So, UK fans, who is brave enough to get in the ring and ask me a question?" |
| In subsequent tweets he said: "Tweet me a question with #UndisputedTruthBook in it. The 5 best get to step in the ring & ask me it in person" and "Ok, lots of questions there. If you've won, @harpercollinsUK will be in touch soon. Thanks everyone for participating." | In subsequent tweets he said: "Tweet me a question with #UndisputedTruthBook in it. The 5 best get to step in the ring & ask me it in person" and "Ok, lots of questions there. If you've won, @harpercollinsUK will be in touch soon. Thanks everyone for participating." |
| A spokesman for HarperCollins said: "There was a change in the UK immigration law in December 2012 of which we were unaware. For this reason Mike had to change location to Paris to salvage his press obligations for the UK." | A spokesman for HarperCollins said: "There was a change in the UK immigration law in December 2012 of which we were unaware. For this reason Mike had to change location to Paris to salvage his press obligations for the UK." |
| Tyson is currently booked in for a tour of his one-man Broadway show, directed by Spike Lee, for eight nights in March next year in London, Glasgow and Manchester. | Tyson is currently booked in for a tour of his one-man Broadway show, directed by Spike Lee, for eight nights in March next year in London, Glasgow and Manchester. |
| He was convicted in 1992 of rape and served three years of a six-year sentence. He also has convictions for assault, cocaine possession and driving under the influence. | He was convicted in 1992 of rape and served three years of a six-year sentence. He also has convictions for assault, cocaine possession and driving under the influence. |
| Under the new immigration rules, any person who has been sentenced to more than four years in prison is barred from entering the country. | Under the new immigration rules, any person who has been sentenced to more than four years in prison is barred from entering the country. |
| Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion at 20 after he beat Trevor Berbick in 1986. | |
| But he courted controversy throughout his career. He bit opponent Evander Holyfield's ear, went bankrupt, lost his four-year-old daughter in a domestic accident, and was jailed. | But he courted controversy throughout his career. He bit opponent Evander Holyfield's ear, went bankrupt, lost his four-year-old daughter in a domestic accident, and was jailed. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We would not comment on the details of an individual case. We reserve the right to refuse entry to the UK to anyone who is convicted of serious criminal offences. | A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We would not comment on the details of an individual case. We reserve the right to refuse entry to the UK to anyone who is convicted of serious criminal offences. |
| "In December 2012 we toughened up the rules on entering the UK, replacing the previous discretionary approach with a clearer, stronger framework including mandatory refusals based on the length of, and time since, sentence." | "In December 2012 we toughened up the rules on entering the UK, replacing the previous discretionary approach with a clearer, stronger framework including mandatory refusals based on the length of, and time since, sentence." |
| The campaign group Ending Victimisation and Blame, which tackles disbelief around domestic and sexual violence, said: "We are delighted that Mike Tyson is not being allowed into the UK due to his previous convictions, one of which was for rape. | The campaign group Ending Victimisation and Blame, which tackles disbelief around domestic and sexual violence, said: "We are delighted that Mike Tyson is not being allowed into the UK due to his previous convictions, one of which was for rape. |
| "We believe that this sends a message that his criminal actions have long-term consequences – sadly, the consequences for his victim seem to have been forgotten by both Mike Tyson and his supporters." | "We believe that this sends a message that his criminal actions have long-term consequences – sadly, the consequences for his victim seem to have been forgotten by both Mike Tyson and his supporters." |
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