2 weeks ago
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A Nigerian antheral migrant identified arsenic Lucius Njoku who utilized his pistillate friend’s individuality to enactment astatine an NHS mishap and exigency section successful the UK has been handed a suspended situation sentence.
Njoku, 33, fraudulently utilized the sanction of bureau caregiver Joyce George to enactment respective shifts implicit 2 months arsenic a healthcare adjunct astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital successful Cheshire.
Despite wearing George’s NHS sanction badge, which had her photograph, the Nigerian nationalist was capable to enactment undetected for weeks.
The infirmary discovered Njoku’s deception lone aft a diligent confronted him astir his identity.
He reportedly replied: “My sanction is Joyce – but I americium a man.”
Hospital unit past reviewed CCTV footage, which confirmed Njoku had worked aggregate shifts astatine the facility.
Investigations revealed that George, 32, besides a Nigerian national, had obtained her nursing occupation done an extracurricular bureau pursuing a palmy interview.
However, betwixt February and April 2024, she allowed Njoku to bash her shifts nether her name. It remains unclear however helium obtained an NHS azygous for the role.
Police officers aboriginal raided George’s home, wherever they recovered Njoku. Prosecutors told the tribunal that phones seized from some of them “showed connection betwixt them astir enactment patterns.”
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Njoku — who lives separately with his NHS idiosyncratic woman — admitted fraud by mendacious representation.
He was sentenced to 16 weeks successful prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to implicit 80 hours of unpaid work. He was besides told to wage £239 successful costs and surcharge.
It is not yet known whether Njoku volition look deportation, arsenic helium is simply a dependant connected his wife’s enactment visa.
Meanwhile, George fled the UK aft being charged with fraud and is believed to person returned to Nigeria. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Prosecutor Lisa McGuire said: “Njoku usually worked arsenic Joyce George and Joyce George has allowed this to hap and agreed to it. The 2 were interviewed successful narration to the offence. Both initially entered implicit ‘No comment’ interviews and arsenic I recognize it, Miss George has returned to Nigeria.”
Njoku’s solicitor, Steven Alis, told the tribunal that his lawsuit had nary erstwhile convictions and primitively came to the UK arsenic a student.
“Mr Njoku came to this state arsenic a student. There was an contented of concern and whilst they were being sorted retired helium obtained work,” helium said.
“Part of that enactment helium obtained arsenic you are present alert was moving efficaciously nether the sanction of Miss George. It is possibly astonishing it was not picked up by management.”
He added: “But determination was nary ailment astir the level of work. He did person the qualifications but his safeguarding checks had not travel through.”
In his judgment, District Judge Jack McGarva said: “You deceived your mode into a occupation which requires safeguarding checks and you bypassed those checks. That undermines the DBS and safeguarding system. Although you were qualified to bash the enactment and you did the enactment without complaint, that is not the point.”
He continued: “There is an statement that contiguous custody is required to deter different radical from seeking to circumvent the DBS system. Had you immoderate convictions that made you unsuitable to enactment successful the environment, that would person made things a batch worse. But you person been assessed arsenic not posing a hazard to immoderate circumstantial person.”
The station Nigerian antheral migrant jailed successful UK for impersonating pistillate caregiver to enactment successful hospital appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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