Illegal workers found in raid at RML in Tiptree...including one who begged to be taken home

Essex Police has lodged a bid to revoke the license of the Balti Raj, which trades as RML, on Station Road, Tiptree, because no right to work checks are being carried out by management.

Ahead of a hearing before Colchester Council's licensing sub-committee next week, details of a raid on the premises in March have been released.

In a statement, chief immigration officer Justin Davis said he spoke to a man who had only just begun working in the restaurant's kitchen, had no passport, had not been paid and was only eating rice.

Records showed the man was on Home Office records as having an outstanding appeal hearing and should not have been working.

Officers escorted him to Kelvedon railway station so he could make his way to his designated address.

Immigration officer Robert Gambrill said another man in the kitchen had a student visa which expired in 2012 and was being paid £250 per week.

He said: "I asked him what his status was in the United Kingdom and he replied 'overstayer - I am happy you're here I want to go back to Bangladesh as soon as possible, take me.'"

A third man, believed to be working as a waiter, initially told immigration officer Emma Clouting he was in the United Kingdom on a valid student visa, but it later emerged it had expired.

He said he had been working at the restaurant for just one week, was paid £100 cash in hand and did not show management any documentation proving his right to work when he took the job.

The two men were arrested and taken to Chelmsford Police Station.

Officers returned to the restaurant in April and asked to see evidence right to work checks were being carried out but have not had any response from management.

The business has permission to open seven days a week and a decision on their license will be taken next Friday.

The Gazette attempted to contact RML but did not receive a response.