A man was caught trying to work at Parklife Festival as a security guard with false documents.

After losing his job during Covid, Adewale Balogun was desperate to find work to provide for his family.

Bolton Crown Court heard he falsified a Security Industry Authority licence which had someone else’s name but a picture on it.

His offences were discovered before the start of the music festival, which is held at Heaton Park, last year.

Amreek Jandoo, prosecuting, said: “At 9.30am on June 11 security officers attended at Parklife to carry out a spot check of SIA licences.

“The image on his licence did not match.

“Mr Balogun was arrested at the scene.”

Mr Jandoo said he also carrying a residency permit also in the name of another man.

An investigation was carried out and it was found to have used the licence for work as a door supervisor at the Bournemouth 7s rugby tournament in May and June of that year.

Balogun, 42, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting two counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of using a false instrument and possessing another person’s identity document.

The court heard it cost £4,000 to prosecute the case.

Katherine Wright, defending, said he had been motivated to provide for his family.

She said: “He found himself in an unfortunate situation around that time.

“He found himself unemployed following Covid.

“He was in a desperate position and simply wanted to provide for his family.

“It was a one off offence and he is a man of previous good character.

“This was out of character for him.

“He is extremely remorseful and regretful.

“He has found it shameful to have to admit these offences.”

Sentencing, Recorder Jeremy Lasker said: “There is regulation in this industry to ensure that the public are properly protected when the need arises.

“The regulations are there so that only suitable and qualified people are employed in what can be a difficult and on some occasions life threatening situations.

“As it happened nothing untoward has resulted from your dishonestly obtaining security licences.”

Recorder Lasker suspended a sentence of six months for a period of 18 months and ordered Balogun, from Bleinheim Grove, London, to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

He also ordered him to pay £500 in costs.