Rebecca Lansari’s life took an unexpected turn when she was sent back to prison earlier this year.

The 44-year-old mother of three had been recalled to jail after missing a probation appointment two decades ago.

Her crime? A minor infraction — failing to attend a meeting after being released from an 18-month sentence for cheque fraud.

Despite turning her life around, Rebecca found herself incarcerated once again, facing the consequences of a mistake made 20 years ago.

A New Life in Tunisia

Rebecca’s life today is far removed from her past.

After meeting her Tunisian husband, Hassib Lansari, in 2013, she moved to North Africa, where they built a life together.

They have three children: Luca, 18, Naima, 11, and Aissa, 9, all living in Tunisia.

Rebecca would often travel back to the UK to work, earning a higher wage than what was available in Tunisia, providing for her family and contributing to society.

But all of that changed when she was flagged as a “most wanted” person at Gatwick Airport in March, leading to her arrest and imprisonment in HMP Downview.

As of now, Rebecca is not allowed to return to Tunisia until January, leaving her children in the care of their father.

The Strain of Separation

Rebecca is now fundraising to cover legal expenses, stating that her life, which had once been nearly perfect, has unraveled completely.

She wrote on her GoFundMe page, “My life was almost perfect, I was working and paying tax, contributing towards society and now I have absolutely nothing.”

Her children, who rely on her for financial support, have added to her stress, as Rebecca feels powerless not only to provide for them but also to be there for them.

While she admits that missing her probation appointment was a mistake, she insists that she tried to rectify the situation by reaching out to the Ministry of Justice, her local MP, and the Prison and Probation Service.

“I’m now 20 years later paying for the incompetence of public authorities that should have done their job properly then,” she said.

A Flawed System

The circumstances of Rebecca’s return to prison have raised serious questions about the fairness of her treatment.

The Independent Monitoring Board, which oversees prison conditions, highlighted that her case was a poor use of limited resources.

Many prisons, like the one in Banstead, Surrey, are already struggling with overcrowding and pressure on staff.

The board pointed out that Rebecca’s recall to prison was based on an offence committed two decades ago, despite her having turned her life around and not committing any further crimes in the interim.

The report also noted that Rebecca, during her time at Downview, had lost her job and was not given any work or activities to engage with in prison.

With so many women passing through the prison’s doors, staff were unable to provide the support and attention necessary for her rehabilitation.

Looking for Justice

Rebecca is determined to push for a legal resolution, hoping that no one else will have to experience the pain and hardship that she, her children, and her husband have faced.

She remains hopeful that by raising awareness, she can change the outcome not just for herself but for others who might be caught in similar bureaucratic traps.

The Ministry of Justice has yet to comment on the situation, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for Rebecca.

However, one thing is clear: this case highlights the flaws within the system that continue to impact those who have already paid their dues and are trying to move forward.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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