'Error-strewn' Shropshire wedding exposed marriage racket, court told
An error-strewn wedding held in Shropshire helped to expose a money-spinning sham marriage racket, a jury has heard.
Peter Frederick, 26, and 38-year-old Lenka Jacova, both of Wolverhampton, tied the knot at Shrewsbury Register Office on July 29, 2013. But the ceremony prompted officials to send report concerns about the union to the Home Office, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
They complained the pair were unable to converse in the same language and had little interaction during the service. One knew very little about the other and had to refer to notes before answering questions, the court heard.
The wedding of UK subject Cherene Cotterill, 26, of Handsworth, and Chibuze Maduagwu was another sham marriage, alleged Mr Stephen Thomas, prosecuting. He said she presented wage slips that purported to show she had worked at a beauty salon based in Birmingham that did not exist at the address given.
Details of the marriage were found among files at the Taylor Way, Tividale, home of 34-year-old Olatunji George, of Sheldon, who is accused of being "at the heart" of the racket.
George, church pastor Donald Nwachuckwu, 31, from Sabell Road, Smethwick, and a 33-year-old man from Bilston, who cannot be named, allegedly gave "a service" costing up to £6,500, which provided a partner and bogus documents to Africans wanting to stay in Britain.
All deny conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law between January 1, 2012, and March 13, 2015. The trial continues.
