Former Cumbrian care home worker to be deported

A Filipino woman who spent four years working in a Workington care home is to be deported after admitting hoodwinking the authorities into giving her permission to stay.

Naida Good, 56, came to this country in 2007 after marrying Terence Good, of Purser Road, Salterbeck, in a ceremony in her native Philippines.

Two years later she began an attempt to obtain naturalisation as a British citizen – but landed in trouble with the authorities when she lied about her past. Carlisle Crown Court heard yesterday that Good failed to tell the immigration authorities that she had once been thrown into prison in Hong Kong after spending 19 years working there and in Singapore illegally.

She was imprisoned after it was discovered that she had taken on the identity of her sister – by using her name and adopting her identity.

The court was told that her sister had been given a job as a home help but she had got cold feet and Good had decided to take her place.

Good pleaded guilty yesterday to obtaining leave to remain in the UK by deception.

In mitigation, defence barrister Elizabeth Muir said there was no suggestion that the Goods’ marriage was one of convenience, just for her to get permission to stay in Britain, and that she had a genuine relationship with Mr Good.

“She did genuinely fall in love with Terence Good,” she added.

She said Good did not dare tell anyone about the time she spent in a Hong Kong prison because she was scared of what her new husband would say.

She separated from her husband in January this year and is now divorcing him.

Ms Muir said Good accepted that she now had to be deported back to the Philippines.

“She is extremely upset by the position she finds herself in but realises she has brought it on herself,” she said.

Ms Muir said Good was willing to go back voluntarily if it meant speeding up the deportation process.

Good was jailed for eight months, but will have to stay in prison after that if the deportation process has not been completed by then.

The court heard that Good now has a new British partner, who is planning to move out to the Philippines with her as soon as he can.