Jail for illegal car wash worker in Leamington

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AN ALBANIAN man who produced a fake Greek identity card when he was caught working illegally at a car wash has been jailed for six months.

Laurenc Fiku, 23, of Grosvenor Road, Leamington, had pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to possessing in identity document in January with an improper intention.

Prosecutor Neil Bannister said that on January 19 UK Border Agency officers went to the Platinum Car Wash in Rugby Road, Cubbington, because of suspected illegal workers.

As a result four people were arrested, including Fiku, and the other three agreed to return voluntarily to Albania.

But Fiku chose not to return, and instead produced a Greek identity card in a bid to persuade the authorities he had the right to remain here.

After it was established that the identity card was a fake, Fiku admitted he had entered the country illegally in the back of a lorry about 16 months ago to obtain work.

He said he had then paid 500 euros for the false identity card and had been working at the car wash for three or four days a week, earning up to £220 a week ‘cash in hand.’

Nick Devine, defending, said he had produced the card to his boss at the car wash, and added Fiku had supported himself during his time in this country, and had not used the false identity card to claim benefits.