A WREXHAM man who worked illegally at a Deeside food factory for two years had properly paid his tax and his National Insurance contributions throughout, Mold Crown Court was told.
Failed asylum seeker Rebas Mohammed, 24, admitted a charge of possessing a false identification document which said he was entitled to work in the UK.
The Iraqi national, of Gatefield in Wrexham, was jailed for four months.
His lawyer, Nic Parry, told the court his client had been in the UK for five years, had sought asylum, followed all the proper channels and his appeal had failed.
Since 2004, he had no income. He did not receive benefits, nor food vouchers and was not given a plane ticket to take him home.
“He has to eat,” said Mr Parry. “He did not steal, he did not commit crime, he found work.
“Throughout, he had paid his tax and National Insurance contributions to the government, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and appreciated he faced a prison sentence.”
Karen Mullen, prosecuting, told how Mohammed had used a false document, which he said he had bought in Birmingham for £100, to obtain a £12,000 a year job at Grampian Foods in Sandycroft.
It said employment was permitted when it was not.
The card had first been issued to a female from Nepal.
He was arrested at his place of work on July 31 and admitted presenting the false card in order to obtain employment.
Judge John Rogers said the only sentence he could impose for possessing false documents was one of imprisonment.
He took into account his guilty plea, the fact he had paid his tax and National Insurance contributions, and while he had been in the UK he had acted and behaved responsibly.
