Friday 4 December 2009

Train Fare-Dodger Ruins Life

An illegal Gambian overstayer destroyed his marriage and promising life in the U.K. after being caught dodging a cheap train fare.

Mustapha Jallow, 34, employed for the past four years by Somerfield Supermarkets, was confronted by rail revenue protection officers who called police at Tulse Hill Railway Station.

Jallow, described as “incredidibly stupid” by his lawyer at Southwark Crown Court is ironically married to a Dutch national and entitled to reside in the U.K., but never applied.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a counterfeit U.K. resident’s permit – which had been stamped into his genuine passport – and possessing a counterfeit U.K. driving licence and was jailed for six months.

The court heard Jallow – who escaped detection when prosecuted for dodging his rail fare once before – tried to use a “friend’s” bankcard to pay the £20 penalty fare, but had difficulty with the signature.

Police were called and he was arrested, triggering a search of his home which unearthed the counterfeit stamp and licence he had used to gain employment, earning several promotions after starting as a shelf-stacker.

Jallow, who entered the country legitimately in 2004, but simply never went home has been locked up for two months since his arrest and has now been served with deportation papers.

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