An alleged fraudster likened her case to the Stephen Lawrence investigation, as she disputed evidence seized by police had been found at her home.

Zholia Alemi, formerly of Scaw Road in High Harrington, Workington, worked as a psychiatrist for a number of NHS Trusts in the UK.

She denies 20 charges, including forgery and fraud.

Giving evidence at her trial at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, Alemi denied forging a University of Auckland degree and a letter of verification to the GMC.

She also said she had earned the fees she received while working as a doctor, “lawfully” and “legitimately”.

The court heard that Alemi had been employed by a large number of different health care providers.

Barrister Francis Fitzgibbon KC asked why she had worked in so many different places.

Alemi said: “It was mainly because of my autism. I go to a job, they interview me, offer me the job, then they give me a pile of policies. When they give me policies, I memorise them.

“Then the problem is, I think the Trust find it easy to bend the rules. I have tried for the last 10 years to accept those bends and it’s very hard to adjust to those changes.

“That is the reason that I ask for a short term contract. I disagree with long-term employment for someone like me.”

Mr Fitzgibbon asked if her autism made it easier for her to work as a locum.

She replied: “It would give me flexibility. If thought if they breached rules or policies, I won’t stay in the job.”

The court heard that Alemi collected things, including old watches and had been described as a “hoarder”. Around 15,000 papers were found in her home, including some that related to her brother.

When asked why she had letters addressed to her brother, she replied, “I keep all the things my family did. I joke about it. I’m the historian of my own life.

“I have documents from all my family. That is my family history.”

During cross-examination, prosecutor Christopher Stables asked why she had given ‘no comment’ to questions put to her at police interview – including what date she had moved to New Zealand.

Alemi said: “At that time, I was very anxious and confused. I was very paranoid. They raided my house.”

The defendant was also questioned about a degree certificate and copies that were found by police in a briefcase at her home.

She disagreed that the documents had been found at her property and denied making the copies.

Mr Stables said: “A police constable said he found the briefcase under the stairs. A fortnight later, a detective went through the material. Your lawyers have agreed that evidence.

“This document that you are looking at in your hand must be a fake.”

Alemi said: “Yes, it is a fake and it’s not from my house.

“The Stephen Lawrence case is exactly like this.”

The trial continues.

READ MORE: Alleged fraudster denies forging medical degree certificate