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21.
January
2020.
Security guard sentenced for working at school with forged licence

OFFICIAL     

For the attention of:

News Desks

No of pages: 

02

Date:  

21 January 2020

Ref:

NR02-20 

 

 Security guard sentenced for working at school withforged licence

On Friday (17 January) Oladeji Christopher Owolabi of West London was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court for two counts of fraud and one count of possessing documents with an improper purpose, contrary to the Identity Documents Act 2010. Owolabi must now undertake an 18 month community order involving 300 hours of unpaid work. He had been in custody since 07 November 2019, following an appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court at which he pleaded guilty to the offences.

Friday's prosecution by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) brings to an end a case that started in 2017. Between April 2016 and November 2017 a security operative, supposedly named Olukayode Obanla, performed the role of security guard at Haringey Sixth Form College in Tottenham. The guard, who was in fact Owolabi, got the job at the college by using an altered SIA licence. He had failed to get a genuine SIA licence of his own, due to relevant criminal convictions which included using false identity documents.

An SIA investigation began after an anonymous tip off to the SIA and Haringey Sixth Form College. The SIA quickly discovered that the documents Mr Owolabi had used to try and get a licence in his own name were fraudulent.

For more than a year the SIA investigators pursued Mr Owolabi in order to interview him, but he refused to engage with them. That left the SIA with no choice but to issue a summons to Mr Owalabi's last known address in West London. He failed to attend Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 06 November, and as a result the court issued a warrant for his arrest. He finally agreed to appear in court on Thursday 07 November, when he was taken into custody. 

Pete Easterbrook, of the SIA's Criminal Investigation Team, said:

"Mr Owolabi pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud in November and was in jail for two months. Friday's court hearing has resulted in a substantial community order and a criminal record.

Mr Owalabi deliberately deceived his employer. He betrayed the trust and jeopardised the safety of vulnerable young people in his care at Haringey Sixth Form College. Mr Owolabi has also undermined the SIA licensing regime through his criminal acts, which is entirely unacceptable. The court recognised the seriousness of his criminality, and as such Owolabi was remanded in custody for two months and has now received a substantial community order."

                                                                    - Ends -

Notes to Editors:

1.By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on the website.

2.The offences relating to the Fraud Act (2006) that are mentioned in this news release are as follows:

Section 2 - Fraud by false representation

Section 7 - Fraud by production of a false document

3.Identity Documents Act (2010) Section 4 - Possession of identity documents for an improper purpose

Further information:

The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of thePrivate Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA's main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.

For further information about the Security Industry Authority or to sign up for email updates visit:www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. The SIA is also onFacebook (Security Industry Authority)andTwitter (@SIAuk).

 Media enquiriesonlyplease contact:

Security Industry Authority

0300 123 9869

media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

 

OFFICIAL

 

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