Man Loses Job After Failing To Declare Previous Convictions

FAILING to declare previous convictions on a job application landed Christopher Silk in court this week.

Silk - a former heroin addict -- got a job as a cleaner last October, but lost it as soon as his record of shop lifting came to light.

Appearing before Ely magistrates on Thursday, 26-year-old Silk, of Fore Hill, Ely, admitted a charge of fraud by false representation.

Silk submitted a job application to Advanced Cleaning Services on October 9 last year, said prosecutor Laura Mardell.

"One of the questions on the form asked whether the applicant had been convicted of criminal offences not considered as 'spent' under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act of 1974," she said.

"He said no, the form was signed by him, and submitted to the company. He was employed, but a manager has said that if he had declared his convictions, he would not have been employed."

After his arrest, Silk told police that his girlfriend had filled the form in for him, and when he considered the question about convictions, he thought they were spent.

"He accepts he did make a gain by giving false information on the form," said solicitor Jacqui Baldwin.

"He should have known they were not spent convictions. He is an ex-heroin addict, so it is difficult to find appropriate work. It is disappointing he lost his job, he must keep searching.

"He is trying to change his lifestyle; he is not committing shop lifting offences."

Giving Silk a 12-month conditional discharge, presiding magistrate Maggie Holling told him: "You seem to have made good progress in keeping out of trouble for some time. We can well understand it is difficult to get work when you have previous convictions, but we urge you to keep trying.