Asylum seeker 'told pack of lies' to stay in Plymouth
AN asylum seeker who told a "pack of lies" to stay in this country has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Tailblah Assoua, aged 34, told immigration officials she had fled from the Ivory Coast to escape an abusive and polygamous marriage, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
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She has gone on to have two children here and is studying at college – but still faces possible deportation.
Assoua, of Cecil Street, Stonehouse, admitted obtaining leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom by deception.
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Judge Paul Darlow told her yesterday: "The application you made in April 2003, saying that you were fleeing a polygamous marriage where the husband was an elderly man who was abusive to you, was a pack of lies."
He gave her a 40-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. She must do 240 hours unpaid work.
Prosecuting, Brian Fitzherbert, said: "She was interviewed by the authorities and gave that account and her asylum application based on that account was refused.
"The defendant lodged various appeals, all of which were dismissed until she had exhausted all of her appeal rights."
Llewellyn Sellick, for Assouah, said she had not committed any offence in almost a decade.
He said: "She is living a good life in this country.
"She has two children who are well looked-after and doing well at school.
"She is at college to improve her language and numeracy skills.
"Who knows whether she will be deported or not?"
Mr Sellick said at the time of the offence Assouah was pregnant and under pressure to tell lies.
He passed the judge references of Assouah's good character from her neighbours and fellow parents at her children's school.
Judge Darlow said he found it hard to believe her claim that she had originally come to the United Kingdom on a visitor's visa with no intention of staying.
He added: "It was an odd thing to do to come to a country where you didn't understand the language, culture and apparently distrusted the figures of authority.
"It is a serious offence to attempt to mislead the authorities."
The judge said that he sentenced her on the basis that her lies had failed and she had been refused leave to stay in the country.
Comments
by OutsideView
Monday, January 21 2013, 12:19PM
“sorry jabbathebutt
Here is something from an item currently on the BBC news site.
Start Quote
We are reaching a crucial tipping point for maternity services in England"
End Quote
Cathy Warwick
Royal College of Midwives
Official data also suggest that immigration may be another factor behind rising birth rates - foreign-born mothers make up nearly a quarter of the figures.”
by mcspredder
Monday, January 21 2013, 12:16AM
“I don't see why they end up here. Surely seeking asylum is done in the first country across the border from where you're escaping from, not a journey half-way around the world?
A degree of p@ss-taking seems to be going on and, for some reason, tolerated.”
by pogle63a
Sunday, January 20 2013, 11:31PM
“People who lie, in order to stay in this country are not asylum seekers, such people make it so much harder for genuine asylum seekers to get sanctuary here. If she has lied and it is proved to be so she should be deported.
People caught lying should be deported not doing so sends the wrong message to others who would do the same.
It is time this country started to enforce the law and secure our borders against liars and worse.”
by heyheyhey
Sunday, January 20 2013, 10:39PM
“Lethal Goats. A band waiting to be formed.
I don't know...I am beginning to get a bit scared of all these Ivory Coast animals. I like a nice jack russell. Why cant we just have Jack Russells?. I mean, literally, no other animals but Jack Russells.
I would want to go to Africa if they just had jack russells..........”
by jabbathebutt
Sunday, January 20 2013, 9:05PM
“@missanthrope ... I hate always being right about you .”
by jabbathebutt
Sunday, January 20 2013, 9:03PM
“@outsideview... you mixed up one persons comment with mine and misquoted me . I never mentioned a falling birth rate at all. I did however say that I prefer the logical maths of the situation which is always taken for racism.”
by JETHROQUEUE
Sunday, January 20 2013, 7:06PM
“I am just so absolutely appalled by the racist comments on this subject and would distance myself from same, the UK operates an open door policy on immigration and all from abroad are welcome and know this, come here don't work and get paid for it along with free housing and benefits - I would do the same if I could find such a generous country to move to. Yes, no doubt in a few years time with full EU status being granted to Romania & Bulgaria white Anglo Saxons will no doubt be outnumbered by those from elsewhere but that is what the politicians of UK & EU want. Just wait till Turkey gets membership !!! millions more. We should all stop moaning about it and accept the situation. As for telling fibs - don't forget article 31 on the Convention of status of refugees 1951 which states individuals should not be penalised for entering a country illegally - hows that for a get out of jail free card . . . . . . .”
by Theholetruth
Sunday, January 20 2013, 5:57PM
“Sell her possessions and put the money back into our economy and deport her immediately before she wastes any more taxpayers money. There's the answer to the problem. Her lying and scheming should automatically entitle her to no rights whatsoever. Get a grip government !!!”
by farley22
Sunday, January 20 2013, 4:06PM
“how much longer are we going to have to put up with our own nationality being diluted by imigrants.
i am english but i cant call myself that any more because it does not exist apparently and to back this up just look at any form asking for your nationality or ethnic background!
also i dont want to call myself british because anyone can be british, iranian, afghanie, iraq, chinese, none of which are actually british!
how much longer are we to tolerate this basic ethnic cleansing by dilution of our own race, if it keeps up we will all demise and become something that we certainly are not.”
by derr
Sunday, January 20 2013, 4:03PM
“Thought = perhaps the father is working to keep the family and not living off the State
Patriot”