Woman used false identity to get care assistant job in Bedford

Ms Akande used the false identity of ‘Maria Dos Santos’ to get a job as a night care assistant in Bedford and a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) clearance to work.

She pleaded guilty to all three charges related to using a false identity to get a job.and on Friday, February 14 was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid works and given a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR).

Bedford Borough Council’s Investigation Service was alerted to discrepancies in the identity documents for ‘Maria Dos Santos’ following an alert from the National Fraud Initiative which led them to believe ‘Maria’ was in fact Ms Akande who had overstayed her visa and had no right to work or reside in the UK.

In an interview with the council, Ms Akande, of Kensington Drive, Great Holm, Milton Keynes, admitted the offences and stated she had originally entered the UK legally but following the breakdown of her marriage and her husband leaving the country, she was left unable to support herself and her children and couldn't afford to apply for a new visa.

She stated she obtained the ID documents for as little as £200 and that these allowed her to obtain employment to pay for her rent and bills.

Judge Bright stated this was obviously a very serious offence and it should carry a custodial sentence. The Judge also recognised that her offence was one of need not greed, as a single parent with young children left with no means to support them.

It was also noted that she was found to be a good employee and once discovered did cooperate fully with the council’s investigation.

Cllr Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance, said: “Working in partnership with national bodies, our fraud team will investigate and take action wherever they can, against someone using a false identity to obtain work in our borough. It's particularly important that people who are working with children or vulnerable adults are exactly who they say they are."