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Cleaner 'blackmailed' two judges | Cleaner 'blackmailed' two judges |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two immigration judges were blackmailed by a Brazilian cleaner who threatened to expose them for employing her illegally, a court has heard. | |
The judges, a man and woman known in court as I and J, both employed Roselane Driza, but later sacked her the Old Bailey was told. | |
Judge I had a relationship with her and Ms Driza later stole videos of him having sex, it is alleged. | |
Ms Driza, 37, from South Norwood, south London, denies blackmail and theft. | Ms Driza, 37, from South Norwood, south London, denies blackmail and theft. |
J had advertised for a cleaner and interviewed Ms Driza, who told her she was a student who had been granted refugee status, the court heard. | J had advertised for a cleaner and interviewed Ms Driza, who told her she was a student who had been granted refugee status, the court heard. |
But in fact she was an "overstayer" who was working illegally, a fact she would later use to blackmail J, said David Markham, prosecuting. | But in fact she was an "overstayer" who was working illegally, a fact she would later use to blackmail J, said David Markham, prosecuting. |
'Too intrusive' | 'Too intrusive' |
J introduced Ms Driza to I, a colleague at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and former lover, with whom she had remained good friends. | J introduced Ms Driza to I, a colleague at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and former lover, with whom she had remained good friends. |
When J sacked Ms Driza in the summer of 2004, after accusing her of becoming "too intrusive in her personal life", I decided it would be "prudent" to end her employment with him as well, the court heard. | When J sacked Ms Driza in the summer of 2004, after accusing her of becoming "too intrusive in her personal life", I decided it would be "prudent" to end her employment with him as well, the court heard. |
But I told the Old Bailey on Thursday he had started a relationship with Ms Driza after she stopped being his cleaner. | But I told the Old Bailey on Thursday he had started a relationship with Ms Driza after she stopped being his cleaner. |
You were using her as a cheap housekeeper with whom you were able to enjoy sex Frances Oldham QC, defending | You were using her as a cheap housekeeper with whom you were able to enjoy sex Frances Oldham QC, defending |
He did not tell J that Ms Driza had moved in with him and when she found out she was "appalled", the court heard - leading him to end the relationship with Ms Driza to save his friendship. | He did not tell J that Ms Driza had moved in with him and when she found out she was "appalled", the court heard - leading him to end the relationship with Ms Driza to save his friendship. |
The court was told he found it hard to get Ms Driza to leave and that she continued to live at his flat rent-free, the court heard. | The court was told he found it hard to get Ms Driza to leave and that she continued to live at his flat rent-free, the court heard. |
The prosecution claim Ms Driza threatened to expose J to her "boss", Lord Falconer, for employing her without a work permit, unless she was paid £20,000. | The prosecution claim Ms Driza threatened to expose J to her "boss", Lord Falconer, for employing her without a work permit, unless she was paid £20,000. |
She told I she would make a similar complaint against him, and also took two videos of him having sex with other women and threatened to send them to his superiors, the court heard. | She told I she would make a similar complaint against him, and also took two videos of him having sex with other women and threatened to send them to his superiors, the court heard. |
'Consumed with rage' | 'Consumed with rage' |
She was still at I's flat when she was arrested on 25 October 2005. | She was still at I's flat when she was arrested on 25 October 2005. |
Asked by Frances Oldham QC, defending, why he was still sleeping with her in 2005, I said it was because he did not want her to pursue her threats. | Asked by Frances Oldham QC, defending, why he was still sleeping with her in 2005, I said it was because he did not want her to pursue her threats. |
Mrs Oldham said: "Your motive of being friendly with the defendant was entirely for your own selfish reasons. | Mrs Oldham said: "Your motive of being friendly with the defendant was entirely for your own selfish reasons. |
"You were using her as a cheap housekeeper with whom you were able to enjoy sex." | "You were using her as a cheap housekeeper with whom you were able to enjoy sex." |
She added that there was a lot of jealousy between all involved - she has accused J of being "consumed with rage" when she heard about Ms Driza's relationship with I. | She added that there was a lot of jealousy between all involved - she has accused J of being "consumed with rage" when she heard about Ms Driza's relationship with I. |
I also admitted some jealousy on his part over J's relationship with another judge. | I also admitted some jealousy on his part over J's relationship with another judge. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |