Two ringleaders of a gang that provided fake passports to high-level criminals, including a suspect in the Stephen Lawrence case and an Irish crime boss, have been jailed. Anthony Beard, 61, was sentenced to six years and eight months at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent.
Beard paid individuals for expired passports and used photographs of criminals to apply for renewals, charging up to £20,000 for documents that allowed fugitives to start new lives abroad. The scheme supplied falsified passports to Jamie Acourt, a former suspect in the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry, and Christy Kinahan, Ireland's leading crime boss, among others.
Christopher Zietek, 67, was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent and converting criminal property. Alan Thompson, 72, received a three-year sentence for the same offences. Deputy circuit judge Nicholas Ainley said Zietek was 'clearly the organiser', Beard was 'the leg man', and Thompson had a lesser role.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Beard approached 'vulnerable people' with similar facial features to clients and handled over 100 fraudulent passport applications. He used burner phones, countersigned applications, and employed contacts posing as professionals to verify images. His fingerprints were found on many forms.
The gang was caught after a covert surveillance operation, codenamed Operation Strey, launched by the NCA in 2017. The investigation involved handwriting experts and voice recognition specialists. Beard and Zietek were arrested during coordinated raids in October 2021.
