Immigrant built life on fraudulent documents

Louis Foudji entered the UK legally from Cameroon in June 2004 on a 12 months visitor’s visa but became an overstayer when that expired.

Having obtained a false Portuguese passport which purported to give him EU status he then applied for a driving licence in that fake name, Michele Stuart-Lofthouse prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Using both those documents to back up his identification he managed to get employment in different jobs earning more than £50,000 in the years that followed.

He also started a relationship, got on the housing list and was eventually allocated a Leeds City Council home in Seacroft, Leeds.

He and his partner had three children and between 2007 and his arrest in September last year he claimed almost £35,000 in working tax credit and child tax credit, she said.

But his dishonesty was uncovered and his illegal status discovered when his partner applied for permission to remain in the UK as a dependent of an EU national and sent copies of his documentation to the immigration services who became suspicious and inquiries revealed his passport was false.

When they went to the couple’s home Foudji’s partner told them he was out but he was found hiding in the attic.

Michael Miller for Foudji said he had not told his partner about his status which had come as shock to her. She was now in hospital having attempted to take her life and their children were in care.

Foudji, 34 of Moresdale Lane, Seacroft, Leeds was jailed for 12 months and faces deportation after he admitted possessing a fake passport, fake driving licence, seven charges of fraud and one of obtaining by deception.

Recorder Richard Woolfall told him it was a fraud executed over a significant period.