A Ghanaian visitor, who overstayed and stole another woman’s identity to claim £72,263 in benefits, has won permission to live in the UK after giving birth to a daughter here, a court heard.
Elizabeth Guyamfuah, 56, claims she paid £7,000 to a bent solicitor with a Home Office contact to obtain the paperwork, which ruined the other woman’s life.
She arrived in the UK on a one-year visa in 2004 on condition she did not seek employment or claim benefits, but over four years later she was still here and applied for income support with the bogus identity.
At Inner London Crown Court Guyamfuah, of London Road, Croydon pleaded guilty to possessing false identity documents, namely a passport and certificate of naturalisation on October 22, 2008.
She also pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain Universal Credit; Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit during a claim from 2009 to 2018.
Guyamfuah received twenty months imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 150 hours community service work.
The court heard Guyamfuah assumed the identity of Ghana-born Hilda Quainoo, of Reading, Berkshire, who did have permission to live in the UK.
She and her children were evicted from their home when unable to claim their legitimate benefits, she was unable to renew her passport and her GP surgery refused to see her, assuming she had moved to Croydon.
Once the victim reported her identity had been hijacked Guyamfuah was quizzed by the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) and still tried to pass herself off as Hilda Quainoo.
“Her story unravelled and she gave her full name and said she bought the identity from a lawyer, now deceased,” said prosecutor Matilda Robinson-Murphy.
Guyamfuah gave birth to her daughter Christina, who is a UK citizen, in 2008 and still claims she does not know who the father is.
Using the documents supplied by lawyer ‘Francis’ and civil servant ‘James’ she successfully got her hands on a Ghanaian passport with a ‘permanent leave to remain in the UK’ stamp.
“The claim began because of her personal circumstances,” said Robin Harrison, defending. “She was a young woman with no money and with a young daughter.”
Guyamfuah now has leave to remain in the UK until October 8, 2021 and is currently receiving £500 a month Universal Credit, plus NHS care for high blood pressure and osteoarthritis.
“That money was effectively stolen from others who needed it and that in my judgement is serious criminality,” announced Recorder SJ Phillips QC.
“These offences were sophisticated and involved planning.
“The lady whose identity you stole has suffered very significantly as a result of your actions,” the Recorder told Guyamfuah.
“She to has children and because of difficulties she faced claiming benefits she and those children were evicted from their home and that cancels out any personal mitigation on your behalf.
“I have read you are an outgoing person and a valuable member of your community and your church and you have a daughter for whom you are the sole carer.
“Were I to send you into custody today there is the possibility your daughter would have to go into care.
“You are a church member and must have been in no doubt about the immorality of your behaviour, disgraceful conduct on your part, taking money others deserved.”
The DWP intend to pursue compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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