A care home recruitment boss who ran a 'one man band' operation to find work for illegal immigrants, netting nearly £19,000, has been sent to prison for two and a half years.
Exploiting Contacts and a Legal Loophole
Benoy Thomas, 50, used his connections in southern India and his knowledge of immigration rules to illegally employ 13 Indian nationals as care assistants. His company, A Class Care Recruitment, operated from Bexhill.
The court heard how Thomas exploited a specific immigration loophole designed for seafarers transferring between vessels. The individuals would enter the UK under this provision before travelling to Thomas's home in Bexhill, where he would arrange their employment in the care sector.
A Nine-Month Operation Unravels
The offences took place over a nine-month period between 2017 and 2018. The operation was discovered by police on 5 June 2018, after officers encountered four Indian nationals who revealed their passports were held by Thomas's company.
When police went to his home, Thomas attempted to hide evidence, including moving his car. He eventually arrived by taxi. Prosecutors stated he "knew exactly what he was doing" and tried to conceal incriminating material.
Sentencing and Condemnation from the Judge
At Lewes Crown Court, Judge Stephen Mooney convicted Thomas of 13 counts of assisting unlawful immigration for commercial gain. The judge described it as a "one man band operation running out of Bexhill".
Judge Mooney said Thomas had "subverted a parliamentary aim" by bypassing laws designed to filter who is entitled to work in the UK. He also criticised the "woeful" six-year delay between Thomas's arrest in 2018 and his first court appearance in 2024, noting it undermined deterrence.
Prosecutor Katie Samways highlighted the severe risks posed, stating: "Many of those he illegally employed were working with some of the most vulnerable people without adequate training or medical expertise, putting the safety and wellbeing of those who needed care at significant risk."
Thomas, a father of six who came to the UK legally in 2007 and gained citizenship in 2012, was the sole employee of his company. He earned approximately £19,000 from the illicit scheme.
He will serve up to half his sentence in custody before release on licence. A proceeds of crime hearing is scheduled for next year.
