Heartache of love-torn couple

But their bright smiles hide a terrible heartache. For the young lovers, who wed after a whirlwind romance, are being forced to live thousands of miles apart.

Former soldier David Evans has found himself fighting a fresh battle just months after coming home from wartorn Iraq – after immigration chiefs stopped his beautiful new Ukranian bride from living with him.

David, of Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, said: "I left the army saying I would not have to fight for anything again. Now I am fighting for something I actually believe in. The only difference is this is a much more painful fight."

The 23-year-old was mesmerised by Tanya Krupenko when they met at City Link in Walsall in July last year, his first job after leaving the Staffordshire Regiment following six years service.

Tanya, aged 20, was on her first visit to the UK on a work visa, and had ended up in Wolverhampton after visiting several sights around the country.

She hadn't planned to remain in the city for long, but she quickly found herself falling for the handsome young machine operative and decided to stay.

Their friendship blossomed into love and soon the couple were a regular sight around the city, enjoying long walks, nights out and cosy evenings at David's home in Milldale Crescent.

After five months together – and when Tanya's visa had run out – the besotted pair flew to her home country in November where they married in front of her delighted family and friends.

Tanya, a tall, stunning blonde, wore a cute, white ensemble on their special day, and her new husband a smart, black suit.

But their happiness was short-lived. For just days into their marriage, Tanya had her application for permanent residency in the UK turned down. Despite dozens of photographs of the couple together, documents, and even letters from David's family proving their relationship, officials said they believed it a marriage of convenience because of the short space of time the couple had known each other.

David, a former St Edmund's School pupil, said: "We both went to the British Embassy in Kiev but they did not even want to know. Tanya was called to a small window and the little man behind it just refused to believe that we were for real."

Tanya burst into tears and fainted after learning the decision.

The couple spent just two weeks together as man and wife before David had to fly back home to work. He has already used up his holiday allowance visiting her and they speak every day on the phone. They are now appealing against the decision and David has been forced to sell his beloved sports car, a Mazda RX2, to pay for a lawyer to fight the battle. Five months on they are still waiting for a court date.

The Express & Star spoke to a tearful Tanya at her home in Kherson. Her voice shaking with emotion, she said: "It is horrible. I am very upset. How can someone who has never met judge a relationship they know nothing about?

"How can they tell you, when you have met someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, that your love is not for real? David's dad even wrote a letter saying how much in love we were and how the whole family wanted us to be together."

David said he is determined to bring his bride back to Wolverhampton.

He said: "I spent six years serving this country and now the government will not let me live my life happily. We did everything properly and legally. If my wife came back in the back of a truck then the chances are she would probably be allowed to stay."

He said the case of Aaron Chisango, the illegal immigrant who knocked down and killed schoolboy Jamie Mason, and who is now living rent-free in Leeds after a short stint in prison, angered him.

"Maybe if my wife kills somebody perhaps she can stay here," he stormed.

The Home Office was unavailable for comment.