A TRAINEE nurse who hid her husband’s murder conviction from authorities has been jailed for fraud and possessing a false passport.

Maryanne Ngina was an illegal immigrant working at the Warneford Hospital in Headington when she committed the offences.

She had applied to remain in the country having married Terry McMaster, who was jailed for life in 2007 for being part of a gang who tortured and murdered autistic 37-year-old Sean Miles in the mistaken belief he was a paedophile.

However, she hid her husband’s conviction from the UK Border Agency and therefore could not prove he was able to support her, and so her application failed.

Nigel Ogborne, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court the Kenyan-born 29-year-old, who married in 2005, had been an illegal overstayer in Britain since September 2007.

Mr Ogborne said Ngina bought a false British passport in 2008 and committed fraud by applying as a British citizen for an NHS bursary, worth more than £15,000 over three years, to study as a mental health nurse at Oxford Brookes.

She was paid £749.84, but cancelled it having received sponsorship to finish her studies. She has never repaid the bursary money, the court heard.

Felix Geirenger, defending, said: “She made a wrong-headed decision to secure her place on a course which would allow her to become a fully qualified mental-health nurse.

“Through one very stupid and unfortunate decision her whole world was falling down around her ears.”

Ngina, now living in London Road, Reading, earlier admitted fraud and possession of a false identity document with intent.

Recorder Simon Blackford jailed her for nine months. The UK Border Agency will decide whether to deport her.