Published: Wednesday, 23rd April, 2008 10:00
Bankie bride’s sham marriage exposed
By Colin Hutton
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A BOGUS bride has admitted she brought “shame” on her family after her sham marriage was exposed.
Born and bred Bankie Helen Douglas wed Ghanaian Philip Titus-Glover in a fake marriage in a bid to get citizenship for the law student.
But Helen says that she was “naive” about it all and at the time could only think about the £1,500 she was offered to marry the stranger.
The 25-year-old was approached by key mover Lamin Manneh who scoured the streets to ask prostitutes and other women if they would join the scam.
She told the Post: “I was out for a night just over a year ago and I was walking along with a pal in Glasgow city centre.
“Out of the blue a car with African guys in it pulled over and this guy introduced himself as Lamin.
“I only let them talk to me because I’d had a good drink and although I thought it was a bit weird that they were asking me to marry a stranger, I gave them my number.”
Helen was homeless and penniless at the time and desperate for the cash to pay debts.
After agreeing to the deal Helen was rumbled by officers from the Border and Immigration Agency just weeks after the ‘marriage’ who warned her that she faced 15 years in jail for her actions.
She said: “I had not even heard of immigration laws and did not realise that it was that serious — I was very naive through it all.
“I didn’t think anything about getting caught or what would happen if I did get caught.
“All I was thinking about was the money because I’m on benefits so £1,500 sounds like a lot — it seemed like the easiest money in the world.
“When I was given the money I felt like I’d won the lottery — I’d never seen so much money.”
Now trying to re-build her life, Helen has got a new boyfriend and wants to put the last year of misery behind her.
She added: “The whole situation has left me upset and totally embarrassed because now I’ve met someone else and I’m trying to put it all behind me.
“I just feel so stupid for doing it — I won’t be making the same mistake again.
“My new boyfriend’s family has been great though and very supportive.
“But I feel as if I’ve brought shame on them as well.
“The sad thing is that I’m never going to be able to change what happened so I just have to move on and get on with things.”
Manneh, 36, pled guilty to fixing five marriages at Paisley Sheriff Court and was jailed until May 6.
Originally Titus-Glover, 34, was charged alongside Manneh but the court accepted his pleas of not guilty after Manneh changed his plea to guilty.
Helen saved herself from prosecution after giving evidence in court.
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