Fake ID care worker narrowly avoids jail

Dele Daniyan, 45, of Prospect Street, Lancaster, worked at Hillcroft Nursing Home in Lancaster for more than three years after gaining employment using a Dutch passport.

The Nigerian national was allowed into the UK legally on a two year visa, which she has since over-stayed, but it did not entitle her to employment or public funds.

Preston Crown Court heard she started work at the home working 154 hours a month on the minimum wage.

Police and immigration officials swooped on the home in March.

Daniyan, who cried in the dock, admitted possessing a fake Dutch passport in the name of Sophia Manfo - whom she claimed was her cousin.

A further charge of dishonestly making a false representation to make a gain, namely payment for employment, was ordered to lie on file.

Prosecuting, Harry Pepper said: “On March 5 this year, just over three years into her employment, police and immigration officers visited the nursing home. She gave her name as Manfo and the associated date of birth. But a fingerprint check showed her true identity. Her status in the UK is an over-stayer - she was meant to leave in November 2012. Once she was identified by immigration she has made an application for asylum in this country and is on immigration bail pending the outcome.”

Imposing eight months in jail suspended for two years, Judge Andrew Woolman said: “You’ve come very close to going to prison immediately but the one thing that persuaded me is my worry about your state of emotional health.

“You’re described as very stressed, your life is shattered. I’ve seen what your life was like in Nigeria and why you did this in the first place.”