A FRAUDSTER who entered the country using a fake passport has been jailed for 18 months.

Yunus Mohamed Patel, aged 29, gained entry to the UK after using a false French passport.

He had bought the passport for 6,000 rupees.

Then last year Patel, from India, submitted a counterfeit Indian passport in an attempt to secure leave to remain in this country.

But his crimes alerted Home Office investigators who swooped on his home in St Helier Street, Daubhill, where numerous false and counterfeit documents were found.

He admitted the four charges of forgery, obtaining property by deception, possessing false identity documents and seeking to obtain leave by deception.

Patel was jailed by Recorder Michael Blakey at Bolton Crown Court.

He will be deported when he has completed his sentence.

Nick Wood, of the Home Office’s North West immigration crime team, said: “The prison term handed down in this case will act as a deterrent to others who think they can cheat the system.

“Using a forged or counterfeit passport is a serious offence and anyone who does so can expect to face arrest, jail and removal from the country.”

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can call Crimstoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org