Postman jailed over giro cheque theft

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... iro113.xml

An African postman, who was given leave to remain in Britain, and three other asylum seekers were recommended for deportation last night after being jailed for their roles in a £250,000 giro cheque fraud.

The gang were told by a judge that their presence in Britain served no useful purpose. Recorder Justin Wigoder, sitting at Birmingham Crown Court, said the theft of more than 800 giro cheques from the mail system had left needy people without funds.

Massamba Lubamba, 35, a Congolese postal worker who stole more than 500 cheques, was jailed for four years.

Basimo Ngolo, 40, the gang's forger, was jailed for three-and-a-half years, while Willy Mazele, 35, and Cyprien Noumeme-Simetcho, 26, the "middlemen" were each jailed for 21 months.

All four had admitted conspiracy to defraud. Recorder Wigoder said: "The conspiracy had real victims — the poor and disadvantaged."

The gang, which included another postman, stole hundreds of cheques from sorting offices in Birmingham and Leeds. John Crimee, a 31-year-old French national, did not appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is thought to have stolen almost 350 giros