After pretending to be a lawyer in London, Cecil Decker, a Sierra Leonean, was handed a suspended sentence.
The prosecution in Decker's ensuing trial stated that the fact that Decker was not Otchie Decker was not Caucasian indicates that Decker was not Otchie.
The fictitious attorney was sentenced to 26 weeks of suspended jail time by Westminster Magistrates' Court after he acknowledged being a barrister.
The prosecution's attorney, Rachel Darlington raised the possibility that this was not an isolated incident by pointing out that the actual Otchie had been receiving calls about representations for clients he was unaware of, implying that it "had been ongoing for some time."
The 39-year-old Decker is originally from Sierra Leone, where his father practiced law and would frequently bring him along to court.
The prosecution's attorney, Rachel Darlington raised the possibility that this was not an isolated incident by pointing out that the actual Otchie had been receiving calls about representations for clients he was unaware of, implying that it "had been ongoing for some time."
The 39-year-old Decker is originally from Sierra Leone, where his father practiced law and would frequently bring him along to court.
Defense attorney David Freedman made the argument in mitigation that Decker's acts were "a stupid, misguided attempt to assist somebody" and that he derived "no material financial benefit" from them.
"I acknowledge that you made no financial gain and that there may have been some altruism behind your behavior, but it does not alter the fact that the offense is aggravated by some features: one, the extent to which you took the matter forward," Judge Anthony Woodcock said in sentencing Decker. What transpired in front of the court or in the court precincts was not merely an oral representation outside of court; the court and court employees were duped.
Judge Woodcock went on, "The client, I dare say, had an important immigration matter to be dealt with, could have been disadvantaged." "To put it mildly, the barrister you impersonated found it annoying."
"I acknowledge that you made no financial gain and that there may have been some altruism behind your behavior, but it does not alter the fact that the offense is aggravated by some features: one, the extent to which you took the matter forward," Judge Anthony Woodcock said in sentencing Decker. What transpired in front of the court or in the court precincts was not merely an oral representation outside of court; the court and court employees were duped.
Judge Woodcock went on, "The client, I dare say, had an important immigration matter to be dealt with, could have been disadvantaged." "To put it mildly, the barrister you impersonated found it annoying."