AN Iranian man who used false papers in an attempt to land a job with Thorntons has been jailed for six months.

Ahmed Raza, who had been smuggled into Britain and had been staying with friends in Derby, said he wanted a job so he could send money back home to his mother.

Derby Crown Court heard yesterday that he turned up for a job interview at the chocolate factory in Swanwick but vigilant staff realised his papers were false.

“His documents alerted the suspicions of staff who were interviewing him for a job and they called the police,” said Gillian Foxcroft, prosecuting.

The papers were in the name of Sadar Mahmood and Raza, 30, initially claimed that was his name.

Miss Foxcroft said: “In a police interview, he admitted the documents were false. He accepted he was using someone else's surname and identity.”

Raza admitted having a false identity card and Home Office “grant of status” letter on June 2.

The court was told that Raza was smuggled into Britain in 2003. He then applied for political asylum but this was refused.

Recorder Stephen Linehan told him: “You were perfectly aware you were required to obey the laws of this country. You chose to use these documents in a criminal way.”

The recorder decided not to recommend Raza's deportation.

Quentin Robins, mitigating, said Raza had been living in Birmingham, where he received £35 in Government vouchers a week.

Although he had been refused asylum, no efforts had been made to deport him.

Raza wanted a job to build his “self-esteem”. Mr Robins said Raza had Kurdish friends in Derby, where he stayed sometimes, and got the false papers on a visit to the city.

“These offences came about because of his wish to provide money for his mother in Iran,” added Mr Robins.

In March, Thorntons was at the centre of a case concerning foreign workers.

Businessman Robert Taylor, known as a gangmaster, had his licence for supplying unskilled workers to firms revoked by a Government watchdog.

Based in Burton, he found jobs for 12 Eastern European workers at the Thorntons factory and at others across the East Midlands.

But the Gangmasters' Licensing Authority (GLA) said he forced migrant families to live in cramped houses as a condition of them finding work.

It said Taylor withheld money, charged for protective equipment and ordered people to pay a penalty if they left before the end of a 12-month contract.

At the time, GLA chief executive Ian Livsey said: “I would urge Thorntons to check this isn't happening elsewhere in their organisation.” Thorntons was unavailable for comment last night.