Fraudster Suspended term for man who falsified qualifications

A MAN who used false documents to lie his way into employment at two law firms has walked free from court.

- Shannon BROWN [e-mail]

Aditya Rai, 43, used a fake university degree and fake passport to apply for jobs, as well as a false UK driving licence under the name Ali Ryan to apply for two bank accounts.

Forging academic certificates to trick potential employers into believing he had a law degree, Rai, of Whittle Way, Brockworth, created a fake CV which he used to obtain employment at three different firms.

Two of these were law firms in Gloucestershire, the other was a construction company in Bristol, where he worked as an in-house legal assistant.

Following an investigation by Gloucestershire Police's Economic Crime Team, Rai was charged with three counts of fraud by false representation, possessing or controlling false identity documents with intent, namely a false UK driving licence, and using a false instrument with intent it be accepted as genuine, namely a falsified CV and forged academic certificates.

He pleaded guilty to offences on March 11, 2025, along with a forgery charge investigated by North Wales Police relating to a false Republic of Ireland driving licence. Another two fraud offences were taken into consideration.

Rai was paid around £10,000 for short terms of employment as legal assistants or paralegals.