A 33-year-old Nigerian migrant, Lucius Njoku, has been convicted in the United Kingdom for fraudulently using a female friend’s identity to work at a hospital where convicted nurse Lucy Letby once worked.
According to reports, Njoku used the identity of Joyce George, an agency nurse, to secure shifts as a healthcare assistant at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester.
For two months — between February and April — Njoku worked under George’s name, wearing her NHS name badge, which bore her photograph, without being detected by hospital staff. During this period, he assisted with washing and dressing patients and carrying out medical observations.
His deception was exposed when a patient, noticing the discrepancy, confronted him. Njoku reportedly responded, “My name is Joyce — but I am a man.”
Subsequent investigations revealed that George, 32, also a Nigerian living in Ellesmere Port, had secured the hospital job through an agency and later allowed Njoku to work her shifts. Police later found Njoku at George’s residence, and messages on their phones showed they coordinated work schedules.
Both declined to speak during police interrogation.
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Njoku — who resides at a different address with his NHS-employed wife — pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service, along with £239 in costs and surcharge.
Prosecutor Lisa McGuire told the court that while no patients were harmed, Njoku’s deception posed serious security concerns.
“Fortunately, no harm was done and there were no complaints about Njoku’s work. But it is the access which is the serious concern,” she said.
Njoku’s lawyer, Steven Alis, explained that his client was a qualified nurse whose safeguarding checks were still pending when he used George’s credentials to work.
“He accepted the seriousness of the matter. Since then, he has obtained proper authorisation but has chosen not to return to the care industry,” Alis said, adding that Njoku now works at Vauxhall through an agency.
The court also heard that Njoku initially came to the UK as a student and is now a dependent on his wife’s work visa.
District Judge Jack McGarva, in his sentencing remarks, said:
“You deceived your way into a job which requires safeguarding checks. That undermines the system. Although you were qualified and did the work without complaint, that is not the point.”
Meanwhile, Joyce George fled the UK after being charged with fraud and is believed to have returned to Nigeria. An arrest warrant has been issued for her.
It remains unclear whether Njoku will face deportation following his conviction.