Flora Mendes, a former solicitor who was struck off in 2015, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for exploiting the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the Windrush scheme to submit fraudulent immigration applications.
Mendes, 45, from Luton, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges against her, which included making up fake addresses in Grenfell Tower to deceive immigrants into believing she was a legitimate immigration lawyer who could assist them in obtaining residency in the UK. She also exploited the Windrush scheme, providing immigration services to five individuals without being qualified to do so.
Despite being disbarred as a solicitor in 2015, Mendes continued to offer immigration services and charged her victims an average of £2,800 per application. Between October 2020 and March 2021, she exploited a Home Office immigration concession for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, fabricating addresses in the tower or attributing existing properties to individuals who had never lived there.
An investigation by the Home Office was initiated after staff became suspicious of the number of applications citing extenuating circumstances received after the deadline. Tracing the applications to the same post office in Luton, investigators found common features among them, including the phrase “when fire busted in our building.
A comprehensive police investigation revealed that six of the flat numbers referenced in the applications had never existed, and former residents of existing flats had no knowledge of the applicants. Mendes is estimated to have profited approximately £39,000 from exploiting the Grenfell scheme.
Judge Geoffrey Payne condemned Mendes’ actions as “truly disgraceful,” emphasizing the impact on individuals affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. He noted that Mendes had taken money from a scheme designed to aid survivors.
In addition to the Grenfell-related charges, Mendes continued to provide immigration services to five individuals between 2018 and 2023, despite lacking the qualifications to do so. She deceived her clients into believing she was a legitimate immigration lawyer, charging them significant sums for advice and applications. Mendes then submitted applications for fee-waived schemes or falsely claimed her clients were destitute to avoid paying fees.
For these offences, Mendes received a concurrent sentence of 74 months.
Mendes’ exploitation of vulnerable individuals and schemes designed to assist survivors has led to significant consequences, highlighting the importance of safeguarding against fraudulent activities in immigration processes.
