News / International
Zimbabwean woman escape jail term in the UK
05 Dec 2012 at 03:57hrs | Views
A Zimbabwean woman who illegally worked in a care home for the elderly has escaped going to prison.
Sekai Mashingaidze of Luton was an overstayer in the UK after an asylum bid was turned down. But she was able to produce a forged letter purporting to be from the Home Office stating that she had permission to work. As a result, Mashingaidze was able to get work caring for old folk at the care home.
But on Thusday at Luton Crown Court Judge Richard Foster showed her mercy when he passed a suspended sentence. Sentencing her to six months suspended for a year the judge told her that she had worked hard at the care home for five years and during that time had paid taxes.
Mashingaidze pleaded guilty to possessing a false document with intent, obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception and fraud.
The court heard that she had come to the UK in 2002. She entered the country lawfully and was entitled to stay here for six months. She then applied for asylum but was eventually turned down. Mashingaidze remained in the country but her status meant she could not work. However, said Erin Haupt, defemding, she did not want to be a burden but pay her way and decided to seek work. In 2006 she made contact with the care home and after producing the forged letter, got a job.
Miss Haupt said : "She came to the UK intending to bring her children over and raise them here. She regrets what she has done. She did not want to rely on the charity of others. She wanted to earn a living."
Sekai Mashingaidze of Luton was an overstayer in the UK after an asylum bid was turned down. But she was able to produce a forged letter purporting to be from the Home Office stating that she had permission to work. As a result, Mashingaidze was able to get work caring for old folk at the care home.
But on Thusday at Luton Crown Court Judge Richard Foster showed her mercy when he passed a suspended sentence. Sentencing her to six months suspended for a year the judge told her that she had worked hard at the care home for five years and during that time had paid taxes.
The court heard that she had come to the UK in 2002. She entered the country lawfully and was entitled to stay here for six months. She then applied for asylum but was eventually turned down. Mashingaidze remained in the country but her status meant she could not work. However, said Erin Haupt, defemding, she did not want to be a burden but pay her way and decided to seek work. In 2006 she made contact with the care home and after producing the forged letter, got a job.
Miss Haupt said : "She came to the UK intending to bring her children over and raise them here. She regrets what she has done. She did not want to rely on the charity of others. She wanted to earn a living."
Source - luton on sunday
