Home Office Fraudster Convicted of Illegally Providing Immigration Advice

28/11/2011

Janette Gordon-Edwards, a Catford resident, was sentenced on 25 November 2011, on six counts of illegally providing immigration advice at Southwark Crown Court.

Gordon-Edwards' (42) activities came to light in 2009 when she worked on the Home Office Immigration Help Desk.  In that role she illegally offered to provide immigration services for cash, including filling out applications for applicants. Victims paid her more than £7,500.

Gordon-Edwards was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years and ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work. She was also made subject of a Prohibited Activity Order 'not to advise on any legal or immigration matters, or come into contact with people with legal or immigration issues, for a period of 2 years.  She must also pay £500 compensation to each of her four victims and pay £1000 prosecution costs.  She has 14 days to pay. 

In passing sentence Judge David Jeremy QC said that these were not technical offences, there was a breach of trust by an employee, and a scam that exploited vulnerable people.

The Immigration Services Commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy, said 'The victims in this case were desperate and Gordon-Edwards exploited them for her own financial gain. Illegally providing immigration advice is a serious matter and ruins lives'.