Illegal Mum-Of-Four Must Go

An illegal immigrant who pocketed nearly £10,000 in benefits and gave birth to three children in the U.K. should not be granted the 'right to family life' under Human Rights legislation and be deported, a judge said today.

Sierra Leone-born Aminata Koroma, 36, of Grove Lane, Plumstead, South-East london duped the Department of Work and Pensions into giving her a national insurance number, which she used to claim £9,963.38 in income support as a single parent while living with the father of her youngest child.

"I don't think it is desirable you stay in this country," Blackfriars Crown Court (pictured) Judge Ian Karsten QC told the sobbing mother-of-four. "Being a burden on the state for the past three years, you do not have a good claim."

The judge acknowledged Koroma, who entered to U.K. in 2000 with her eldest daughter, could challenge the Border Agency's decision to seek deportation under European Human Rights legislation, but said should be removed after serving her prison sentence.

"You used forged documents to remain in this country when you were not entitled to and obtained state benefits," added Judge Karsten.

Jobless cleaner Koroma, whose four daughters aged eight months, two, nine and fifteen years have at least three different fathers, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument on November 26, 2004, namely a forged Sierra Leone passport and Home Office letter.

Both purportedly gave Koroma indefinite leave to reside and work and claim benefits in the U.K. and she received income benefit payments between January 13, 2007 and March 31, this year.

Prosecutor Mr. Ross Cifonelli told the court: "There is no record of her arriving and the stamps in her Sierra Leone passport were false. We don't know how she got into the country."

Koroma was arrested on March 23 after a review of her benefit claim revealed false documents were used to establish identity.

She told investigators she claimed political asylum on entering the U.K., after her father and brother were murdered by rebels in her homeland, but there is no record of such a claim.

After giving birth to her eldest daughter in Sierra Leone, Koroma claims a cruel Dutchman brought her to Holland and she then fled to London, immersing herself in Peckham's huge African community and earning cash via prostitution.

She paid £1500 for the bogus Home Office letter and after obtaining her national insurance number illegally worked at a care home and for ISS UK Ltd. earning £20,564.90 between April 2005 and October 2006.

"It looks like you came in by some illegal means," Judge Karsten told Koroma, sentencing her to twelve months imprisonment, which automatically triggers a recommendation for deportation.

"Nobody knows who you are, or your background," added the Judge. "We do not know how true what you say is."