LONDON — A former London bus driver who impersonated multiple test candidates—using wigs and forged documents to take UK citizenship exams on their behalf—has been jailed for four years and six months.
Josephine Maurice, 41, of Enfield, North London, admitted to a sweeping scheme that saw her sit for at least 13 fraudulent Life in the UK Tests between June 2022 and August 2023. Her impersonations, which involved disguising herself as both men and women, spanned test centres across the country, from London to Oxford and Milton Keynes.
Maurice pleaded guilty to 13 counts of fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, and two counts of possessing another person’s identity documents. She was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday.
“A Wholesale Assault on the Immigration System”
Judge Anthony Callaway, presiding over the case, described Maurice’s conduct as a “wholesale assault” on the UK
immigration process, stating:
“You attended test centres fraudulently, undertaking Life in the UK Tests on behalf of individuals who were supposed to be there themselves. The fraud was deliberate, sophisticated, and carefully organised—relying on wigs, forged identity documents, and extensive travel.”
The court heard that Maurice travelled to testing sites in Stratford, Luton, Hounslow, Reading, Oxford, Nottingham, and Milton Keynes, repeatedly presenting false identities to help applicants bypass legal residency requirements.
The Life in the UK Test
The Life in the UK Test is a mandatory assessment for individuals applying for indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship. The exam features 24 questions on British history, culture, and political life. A £50 fee applies for each attempt.
Typical questions include:
• “Who was King of England at the time of the Norman invasion in 1066?”
• “How often does Prime Minister’s Questions occur when Parliament is sitting?” “Well-Organised” Scam with Unclear Profits
After her arrest earlier this year, police found multiple provisional driving licences and forged documents at Maurice’s home. While the financial gains from the scam could not be clearly quantified, Prosecutor Nana Owusuh described it as a “well-organised criminal operation.”
Maurice was not believed to be the mastermind of the network, but her role was pivotal. Investigators say the scheme could pose a “national security risk” by enabling individuals with no legal immigration status to secure permanent residency or citizenship.
“Not the Mastermind, But Responsible”
In her defence, barrister Stephen Akinsanya described Maurice as a single mother of a vulnerable 25-year-old son with schizophrenia. At the time of the offences, she was working as a bus driver for Arriva.
“She foolishly agreed to help someone and this is where it has landed her—in custody and away from her son. That’s what keeps her awake at night,” Akinsanya told the court.
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Public Response and Legal Commentary
Immigration lawyers and policymakers have expressed concern over growing trends in test fraud linked to residency and naturalisation applications. Speaking anonymously, one senior Home Office official said the case underscores a “wider pattern of abuse” targeting the UK’s citizenship verification system.
Maurice will serve her sentence at HMP Bronzefield, where she appeared via videolink for the proceedings.
