11:47am Tuesday 21st March 2006
A Zimbabwean woman was handed a 12-month conditional discharge last week after being caught with forged documents at Lunar House immigration centre.
Chenayi Dzinotyiwei, 23, was arrested on January 27 after staff found a fake driving licence and National Insurance card in her handbag.
Dzinotyiwei pleaded guilty to obtaining a bank account and employment with false documents at Croydon Crown Court last Friday.
After staff at the Home Office found the forged documents Dzinotyiwei instantly admitted to paying £450 for the driving licence and £100 for a National Insurance card. She also admitted using them as identity to open a bank account and when applying for a job.
Amanda Hamilton, defence solicitor for Dzinotyiwei, said the Zimbabwean came to the UK on a visitor's visa two years ago and when that expired she applied for a student visa which was refused.
Miss Hamilton said: "She made full admissions when arrested and was very candid with the immigration authorities."
Dzinotyiwei, who is applying for asylum status, came to the UK to escape military service in her native Zimbabwe.
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