A woman who masqueraded as a psychiatrist for two decades has been ordered to repay £406,624 to the NHS or face an additional two and a half years behind bars.

Zholia Alemi, 62, from Burnley, was convicted in February 2023 of multiple fraud and forgery offences at Manchester Crown Court and received a seven-year prison sentence.

The bogus doctor worked across hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland for more than 20 years despite never possessing the required medical qualifications.

She accumulated earnings and benefits exceeding £1 million whilst treating hundreds of patients without proper credentials.

Zholia Alemi appeared at Manchester Crown Court

Alemi was found guilty of 13 counts of fraud, two counts of forgery, three counts of deception and two counts of using material to falsify medical qualifications.

Cumbria Police uncovered evidence that she had forged documents claiming she graduated from the University of Auckland, when in reality she had dropped out after her first year.

She exploited a now-defunct provision in the Medical Act that allowed Commonwealth graduates to register without sitting the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam.

This loophole, which closed in 2003, enabled doctors from countries including New Zealand to practise in the UK based solely on their overseas qualifications. Her fraudulent registration with the General Medical Council opened doors to employment across multiple UK hospitals.

The fake document forged by Alemi

The court determined Alemi's total criminal benefit amounted to £1,204,819.30, with available assets of £406,624 subject to the confiscation order.

Adrian Foster of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with Cumbria Police and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order."

He added: "Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years.

"In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk."

Foster emphasised that her fraudulent actions enabled her to "dishonestly earn income and benefits more than £1m, to which she was not entitled.

"She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS."

If she fails to pay the £406,624, she will serve an additional two and a half years in prison on top of her original seven-year sentence.