Male migrant who posed as a female nurse and worked in A&E department for months avoids jail
A male migrant borrowed the identity of a female friend to care for seriously ill patients in the A&E unit of the NHS hospital where killer nurse Lucy Letby worked, a court heard.
Lucius Njoku, 33, worked as a healthcare assistant at the Countess Hospital of Chester, fraudulently using the name of the institution’s nurse, Joyce George.
Letby worked at the besieged hospital between 2012 and 2018 and is serving 15 life sentences after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others – one of them twice – in 2015 and 2016.
Three former senior executives are being investigated for manslaughter by gross negligence. The Care Quality Commission currently rates the hospital as needing improvement.
Chester magistrates’ court heard Njoku went unnoticed by colleagues despite carrying the woman’s NHS badge, complete with a clear photograph.
For two months between February and April, she washed, dressed, and observed patients.
But the suspicion was revealed when a patient confronted Njoku and the fraudster shouted: “My name is Joyce – but I’m a man.”
The investigation revealed that 32-year-old George, also a Nigerian national, who lived near Ellesmere Port, found a job at the hospital through an external agency after a successful interview.
Lucius Njoku arrived at Chester magistrates court with his wife to be sentenced for fraud
However, he allowed Njoku to do his shifts under his own name. It is unclear where he got his NHS uniform.
Police raided George’s home and found Njoku at the address. On the mobile phones taken from both suspects, it was seen that text messages were exchanged regarding the shifts at the Countess.
Both declined to comment in police interviews.
At Chester magistrates’ court, Njoku, who lives with his NHS worker wife at a different address in Ellesmere Port, admitted fraud by false representation.
He was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, plus 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £239 costs and surcharges.
It is unknown whether his wife will be deported because she is ‘dependent’ on her work visa.
George fled England after being accused of fraud and is thought to have returned to Nigeria. An arrest warrant was issued.
Following an interview, prosecutor Lisa McGuire described how George found employment with the Countess through an outside agency.
The A&E department of the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Njoku worked under the name of his friend
Ms McGuire said: ‘He allowed Njoku to do his shifts under his own name.
‘Fortunately no damage was done and there were no complaints about Njoku’s work. But it is access that is of serious concern.’
Njoku, who came to England as a student, had no previous criminal record. His lawyer, Steven Alis, said it was “perhaps surprising” that his presence “went unnoticed by management”.
Mr Alis said Njoku was a qualified nurse but ‘safety checks were not carried out’ during shifts.
He added: ‘He acknowledged the seriousness of the incident. She has since received the necessary permission but has chosen not to work in the care sector. Instead he now works for Vauxhall through an agency.’
Killer former nurse Lucy Letby is serving 15 life sentences for murdering babies in her care
Mr Alis said Njoku’s wife was a healthcare worker who came to the UK on her original visa, but Njoku himself was now dependent on her visa for work purposes.
The defense acknowledged that if Njoku was allowed to stay in Britain, ‘he could come to the attention of the Home Office if he offends again’.
Sentencing on Thursday, District Judge Jack McGarva told Njoku: ‘You cheated your way into a job that required security checks.’
The judge said: ‘This undermines the system. Even though you are qualified and do the job without complaining, that’s not the point.’
