Ex-Domino's worker facing deportation five years after entering UK on fake passport

Aslan Haiharoev came to this country from Russia on a forged Romanian passport to live with the “love of his life” in 2014, a judge was told.

He had flown from his home country to Amsterdam on his own Russian passport and spent 2,500 euros buying the fake which was in the name of Florin and was not spotted by custom officers, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The fraud was described as “not a very good copy” after being produced via laser printer and not colour, with glue showing where pages had been stuck in the document.

It was also used in a successful application for a National Insurance number, which allowed him to work in the UK and he got a job with Domino’s Pizza under the assumed name.

Mr Mukhtar Ubhi, defending, explained: “He met his partner when she was in Russia.

“She is from the UK and has three children.

“The offences were committed to join the love of his life and he has been living with her and the children ever since.

“He provides an income for the family and is regarded as the father of the children.”

Haiharoev was caught out when he applied for a UK driving licence using the fake passport and a bogus Romanian driving licence in 2018, which were spotted as forgeries by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Mr Ubhi continued: “He is a hard working honest man who was full and frank when interviewed by the police and admitted the offence, but an immediate period of custody would present his family with significant financial problems.”

Enthusiasm

Among the testimonials presented to the court on behalf of Haiharoev was one from his former employer, who praised his enthusiasm for work and said he would immediately re-employ him if he could.

Haiharoev, of Armstrong Close, Stourbridge, admitted possession of a fake passport with improper intention, and was told by Judge Dean Kershaw: “This is a serious offence which requires a deterrent factor and that normally means immediate custody.

“If I impose that it would have a significant impact on your family.

“You are a hard-working man who is not a danger to people in this country.

“So, in an act of mercy, I am going to suspend the sentence but I cannot say what will ultimately happen to your attempt to regularise your position in this country. That is a matter for a different court.”

Haiharoev, who is trying to fight deportation from the UK and was of previous good character but cannot work here any more, received a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months together with a five-month night-time curfew and was ordered to pay £500 towards the cost of the case.