Confusion over Kettering man's identity delays court case

A court case involving a man from Kettering alleged to have possessed a fake ID card had to be adjourned '“ as nobody was sure who the defendant was.
General view of Wellingborough Magistrates Court, Midland Road. ENGNNL00120130429123958General view of Wellingborough Magistrates Court, Midland Road. ENGNNL00120130429123958
General view of Wellingborough Magistrates Court, Midland Road. ENGNNL00120130429123958

Wellingborough Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday) heard the case of George Charila, 29, of Spring Rise.

But when the clerk asked the defendant if that was his name, he said: “Not exactly.”

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He then informed the court that his name was in fact Bekim Noka, he was 27, and lived in Coventry.

Noka appeared in court charged with possessing a fake Romanian identity card and possession of cocaine after police visited an address in Kettering in June this year.

It transpired that George Charila was in fact the name on the fake card, and that he had not told police his name was Bekim Noka when they booked him in at the police station.

Both the police and the courts believed he was George Charila until he turned up at the courthouse.

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Noka, an Albanian national, had intended to plead guilty to both charges – something which his solicitor Jenny Evans was keen on pressing ahead with.

But prosecutor Jerena Tomaszewska said the revelation had completely changed the case and could bring extra charges, asking the court for more time to investigate.

She said: “Clearly there are some issues in respect of the matter we are dealing with and whether there are any more charges.

“We don’t know who Mr Noka is or what his history is, or even if there is any.”

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Bemused chairman of the bench David Young said: “This man has come to court and given us a different name.

“Is this the man who went to the police station? I do not know.

“We can not go ahead with this case today.”

Noka was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on January 4, 2017.

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