Zimbabwe bogus Ingleby Barwick lawyer admits fraud

Teesside crown court

A bogus lawyer from Zimbabwe is facing a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty today to fraud charges committed in the North-East.

Cephas Matanhire was arrested when he landed at Heathrow Airport last September - two years after Cleveland Police began investigating him.

Detectives started their probe after a reporter posing as a failed asylum-seeker filmed Matanhire appearing to tell him to lie on his appeal papers.

Following the broadcast by the BBC, statements were taken from four people who claimed to have paid Matanhire a fee for his services.

Yesterday, the 50-year-old, from The Orchard, Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, was due to go on trial at Teesside Crown Court.

After lengthy legal discussions between his lawyer and prosecutors, Matanhire admitted three charges of obtaining property by deception.

He will return to court on January 22 to be sentenced, and was remanded in custody by Judge Peter Armstrong until then.