Horden man admits selling fake Covid vaccination records

Christopher Thompson was arrested after the National Crime Agency (NCA) and NHS England held a joint investigation into the online sale of vaccination passports which reportedly made more than £200,000.

The 36-year-old, along with his three co-accused, were arrested by its officers in 2022 and 2023 as a result of the investigation.

Thompson, of Thorpe Crescent, Horden, County Durham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation by creating false Covid-19 vaccination records in the National Immunisation and Vaccination System and unauthorised computer access with intent by accessing the National Immunisation and Vaccination System to create false Covid-19 vaccination records.

The charges relate to unvaccinated individuals being able to buy vaccine passport records allowing them to travel when others were subject to restrictions.

Judge Jonathan Carroll adjourned sentencing until after the three other co-accused are dealt with.

He said: “You have pleaded guilty to these two counts but I cannot give you a sentence date yet because I don’t know what is going to happen with the others.

“You must return to court when all the defendants are present together and we will identify whether there is going to be a trial or not.”

Thompson was released on conditional bail.

Ian Taylor, 42, of Haringay Crescent, Darlington, 34-year-old Shahid Hussain, of Westbourne Grove, Middlesbrough, and Abbey Coates, 25, of The Sidings, Darlington, all face the same charges.

They will appear at court on June 1 for a pre-trial preparation hearing.