Man sentenced for impersonating immigration tribunal lawyer

A man named Cecil Decker pretended to be a barrister named Andrew Otchie during an immigration tribunal at Bream’s Buildings in London on March 1. Court staff who knew the real barrister alerted the police and the judge, leading to Decker’s arrest. Decker admitted to the deception when challenged by the judge and the police discovered that he had been impersonating Mr. Otchie for some time. It was revealed that Decker had a previous incident in January where he impersonated the same barrister, but there were no other incidents of impersonation.

Decker’s actions had no material financial benefit, according to his defense lawyer. He was previously convicted in 2005 for attempting to regularize his immigration status with a fraudulent letter related to his medical condition. This conviction interrupted his medical studies at Liverpool University and he is currently in the later stages of an IT course. Decker’s father, a practicing barrister in Sierra Leone, was murdered and Decker and his sister were present during the incident, which had a significant impact on him.

Deputy district judge Anthony Woodcock sentenced Decker to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, for wilfully pretending to be a barrister. In addition, Decker was ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, 150 hours of unpaid work, and to pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 in costs. The judge acknowledged that Decker did not make any financial gain from his actions but emphasized the seriousness of deceiving the court, court staff, and the impersonated barrister. He highlighted the potential disadvantage to the client in the immigration matter and the nuisance caused to the barrister.

David Freedman, Decker’s defense lawyer, mentioned that there was a previous incident in January where Decker impersonated Mr. Otchie, but there were no other instances of such behavior. Decker’s actions were described as a “stupid, misguided attempt to assist somebody” without any financial benefit. Despite Decker’s troubled past and the impact of his father’s murder on him, the judge imposed a sentence that included probation, community service, and financial penalties. Decker’s previous conviction for attempting to regularize his immigration status with a fraudulent letter was also mentioned during the court proceedings.

Decker’s actions of pretending to be a barrister during an immigration tribunal led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. His history of deception, including a previous incident in January and a past conviction for immigration-related fraud, were considered during the sentencing. The judge emphasized the seriousness of deceiving the court and the potential harm to the client in the immigration matter. Despite Decker’s troubled past and the impact of his father’s murder on him, he was given a suspended prison sentence, probation, community service, and financial penalties as punishment for his actions.