Illegal migrant works in House of Lords for six months

An illegal immigrant worked for six months serving lunch at the House of Lords without any security checks, a court heard.

Nigerian Modupeola Fatoyinbo, 41, was a casual catering assistant in the Palace of Westminster. When she was invited to apply for a permanent job she produced a fake passport, Southwark crown court heard. When she was arrested she told police she had bought it for £170 from a friend.

Prosecutor Peter Zinner said that there was no "sinister" motive for Fatoyinbo working in Parliament.

Jailing Fatoyinbo for four months, Judge Andrew Goymer told her: "These are serious offences which undermine confidence in the management and identity control systems of this country. People must expect to go to prison for such offences." Fatoyinbo, of Forest Hill, admitted possessing a false identity document.