Ms Y

Ms Y was arrested at Gatwick airport in July 2006 and charged with using a false instrument, which is the act of creating, replicating or using a document or object with the intention of deceiving others. She pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court and was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to nine months’ imprisonment. 

Ms Y said she was brought into the UK in 2005 by a woman who provided her with a passport. This was taken from her when she arrived. She said she worked for the woman in domestic servitude, was not paid and was subject to serious physical violence. She also stated she was raped and sexually assaulted by the woman’s husband.  

Ms Y obtained a false passport and a plane ticket from another male and was arrested as she attempted to use the passport to fly to Nigeria.  

An application to the CCRC was received in August 2022 on the basis that she was a trafficked person and was deprived of a defence. 

The Home Office provided a reasonable grounds decision in August 2018 that Ms Y had been a victim of modern slavery. A positive conclusive grounds decision was provided in December 2021.  

The CCRC considered that there was a real possibility the Crown Court would find Ms Y was acting to escape her trafficked status regarding this offence and that there was a real possibility the Court would find she had a defence of duress of circumstances or that her prosecution was an abuse of process. 

The CCRC referred the conviction in July 2025.

The Crown Court upheld the conviction in September 2025.