A man who orchestrated a string of sham marriages to allow foreign men to get into Britain has been jailed for five years.
Paul Singh, 39, formerly of Cricklewood, north London, was yesterday sentenced and recommended for deportation after being found guilty of fixing sham marriages over the space of three years.
He supplied British 'brides' to an estimated 80 men, most of whom were from the Indian subcontinent, and sorted out the necessary documentation for them to gain entry into the UK.
But his scam was revealed as part of a News of the World investigation in July 2004, when he was approached by investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood who recorded him admitting his crimes.
He offered to organise a wedding for the reporter, who was posing as an illegal immigrant, for £8,500.
Following the meeting, police were contacted and swooped on Singh's flat, where they arrested him and his then girlfriend Kalpana Pindoria, 22, who was one of the 'brides' Singh used.
Pindoria was sentenced at Snaresbrook crown court last month to 140 hours community service and fined £750 and ordered to pay £250 in legal costs.
A number of other sham 'brides' and 'grooms' were also handed a variety of sentences for their part in the conspiracy.
Speaking after Singh was sent to jail, Detective Inspector Nick Downing of the Metropolitan police said: "This was a major fraud that was taking place, being orchestrated by Singh.
"He was blatantly and illegally abusing the system for his criminal gain. This case shows that police can and will act to stop this illegality. Today's sentence should act as a harsh warning that this is a crime and that it will be treated seriously
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