So basically he walks into a hospital with a picture of a female on his badge and works there and no one checks or even asks!
This is so worrying, he should be deported for this, but it also raises serious questions about the hospital.
Also are people too scared to ask certain demographic groups about issues, such as training, qualifications? Beyond shocking indeed.
And how could he walk free or not be deported?
A court has heard how a male migrant assumed the identity of a female friend to care for critically ill patients in the same NHS hospital once home to killer nurse Lucy Letby.
Lucius Njoku, 33, allegedly used the credentials of agency nurse Joyce George to secure work as a healthcare assistant at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester.
Letby, who worked at the troubled facility between 2012 and 2018, is now serving 15 life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others — one of them twice — during her time there in 2015 and 2016.
Three former senior managers at the hospital are now under investigation for potential gross negligence manslaughter, while the Care Quality Commission has rated the facility as “requiring improvement.”
Despite wearing a name badge with a clear photo of the woman whose identity he stole, Njoku managed to go unnoticed by colleagues, Chester Magistrates’ Court was told. Over a two-month period between February and April, he reportedly bathed, dressed, and monitored patients.
His deception only came to light when a suspicious patient challenged him — prompting Njoku to stammer, “My name is Joyce… but I am a man.”
Investigators later discovered that Joyce George, 32, a fellow Nigerian national living in Ellesmere Port, had legitimately secured a position at the hospital through an external staffing agency after a successful interview. George allegedly allowed Njoku to work her hospital shifts using her name, though it remains unclear how he obtained an official NHS uniform.
When police raided George’s home, they found Njoku there. Officers seized mobile phones belonging to both suspects, uncovering text messages coordinating hospital shifts at the Countess of Chester. Neither suspect provided any comment during police interviews.
Fraudster Walks Free After Court Hears of Identity Deception
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Njoku — who lives with his NHS-employed wife at another address in Ellesmere Port — pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
He was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work, along with £239 in costs and surcharges.
Authorities have not confirmed whether he faces deportation, as he is listed as a dependent on his wife’s work visa.
Meanwhile, George fled the UK after being charged with fraud and is believed to have returned to Nigeria. A warrant has since been issued for her arrest.
Prosecutor Lisa McGuire told the court that George had originally secured her hospital position through an external agency following a successful interview. She confirmed that George had allowed Njoku to cover her shifts under her name.
“Fortunately, no patients were harmed and no complaints were made about Njoku’s conduct,” she said.
“However, the real issue lies in the level of access he was granted.”
Njoku, who came to the UK as a student, had no prior criminal record. His defence solicitor, Steven Alis, noted that it was “perhaps surprising” hospital management had failed to notice his presence.
Mr Alis explained that Njoku was a trained nurse, but his safeguarding checks had not yet been approved at the time he took on the shifts. “He recognises the seriousness of what happened,” Alis added. “Since then, he has obtained the proper authorisations but has chosen not to return to healthcare. He is now employed through an agency at Vauxhall.”
Mr Alis also told the court that Njoku’s wife, a healthcare worker, originally came to the UK as his dependent — but their roles have since reversed, with Njoku now reliant on her visa to stay and work in Britain. The defence accepted that if Njoku were allowed to remain in the country, “he may well come to the attention of the Home Office should he reoffend.”
During sentencing on Thursday, District Judge Jack McGarva told Njoku: “You obtained a position through deception in a role that demands strict safeguarding checks.” The judge added: “Your actions undermine the integrity of that system. While you may have been qualified and performed your duties without issue, that is beside the point.”
Legal Framework: Fraud by False Representation
This unauthorized use of a distinct identity, particularly to secure employment or financial gain, is criminalized under UK law as Fraud by False Representation (Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006).
Given that this is an indictable offense, convictions in the Crown Court can result in a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.
Crucially, any such deception used to gain access to sensitive settings like healthcare facilities is treated with amplified severity due to the direct and undeniable threat it poses to patient safety and the integrity of essential safeguarding processes, such as mandatory background checks.
Systemic Oversight and Accountability in NHS Safeguarding
This incident critically highlights potential vulnerabilities in NHS safeguarding and verification procedures, particularly regarding the reliance on agency staff.
NHS Trusts carry a non-negotiable legal obligation to rigorously perform identity, qualification, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks before any individual can access or work with vulnerable patients.
When these statutory safeguards are breached, legal accountability may extend far beyond the individual perpetrator. Where systemic negligence or a failure in organizational duty can be demonstrated, liability can be assigned to hospital management or the staffing agency involved. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 explicitly places a statutory duty on healthcare providers to ensure robust recruitment processes and the competence of all staff.
The severity of these failures is perhaps best summarised by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), who noted: “It is as vital as ever that my Office continues to call for action to improve learning, accountability and, ultimately, safety.”
The ongoing consideration of investigations—such as those involving gross negligence manslaughter against senior managers—underscores the severe legal and ethical obligations of leadership to maintain patient safety, uphold professional standards, and ensure continuous compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
From...https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2025/10/male-migrant-fake-female-nurse-nhs/
He should have been jailed and then deported.
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