A Nigerian student Louis Esene and his 22 year old ‘bride’ were caught during their bogus wedding when the registrar noticed they were uncomfortable with each other.
A bogus bride was caught out because she ‘flinched’ when her phoney husband-to-be touched her knee in a register office. Emilia Ginova, 22, was jailed today for posing as a blushing bride ready to walk up the aisle with her groom.
The court heard Ginova had only first seen the Nigerian on the day of the service – and was being paid £3,000 to take part in the sham marriage. She was caught out by an eagle-eyed registrar who spotted her shocked reaction when Esene, 28, reached out to touch her leg.
Registration officer Donna Davies said: ‘The groom tried to touch the bride’s knee but she looked very uncomfortable. She flinched and there was no interaction at all. I knew it was a scam.’
The marriage was stopped – and the pair were both arrested at the registrar’s office in Pontypridd, South Wales.
It was later revealed that Esene wanted to stay in Britain because his visa had run out.
The court was told a friend recruited Ginova – who is a Slovakian-born Roma – and was four months pregnant by another man at the time of the wedding.
Esene and Ginova pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law.
