Lawyer 'helped illegal immigrants'

A lawyer helped to bring dozens of illegal immigrants into the UK who were then employed in farms and factories, a court has been told.

Solicitor Tim Cary, 49, acted for a father and son who ran a racket employing illegal workers from eastern Europe, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

The jury heard the workers were sent to farms and food producers in Kent.

Mr Cary, of Cargate Lane, Saxlingham, Norfolk, denies two counts of conspiring to facilitate illegal entry.

'Forgeries used'

The jury heard that Victor and Jayson Cox, used forgeries to convince unknowing suppliers that the workers had a right to be employed in the country.

The court was told that up to 1,000 forged documents were recovered by police investigating workers employed by the pair, who had offices in Rochester.

John Black QC said: "Their principle aim was to take the commission from as many workers as they could supply as well as charging workers for their accommodation and transport."

He said Mr Cary was a partner with a firm of solicitors in Norwich, called Leathes Prior.

Firms 'risked contracts'

The court heard that firms taking on the workers had unwittingly risked losing huge contracts with supermarkets, such as Tesco, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, who have strict guidelines on illegal employment.

Mr Black said investigators found that more than 60% of the 2,000 workers who had gone through the agencies run by the father and son had not been eligible for employment at the firms.

Victor Cox, 56, of Nursery Lane, Thetford, Norfolk, and his 34-year-old son, of Kirby Road, Norwich, deny conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to use false instruments and two counts of conspiring to facilitate illegal entry to the UK.

Office manager for the pair, Elizabeth El Komy, 55, of Corporation Street, Rochester, denies accounts of conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to use false instruments.

Another defendant, Christopher Putka, 47, of Anselm Road, Dover, denies conspiracy to defraud and two counts of forgery related to allegations that he made false passports.