A dad who entered the UK illegally using a Portugese passport stayed for six years, even applying for his one-year-old child and wife to settle in the UK. The offence, of assisting unlawful immigration into the UK, faced by Nayan Patel, orginally from India, carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thursday (February 9) how Patel originally came to the UK on a Visa in 2017, which was extended until 2018. But further applications to remain were rejected and he was issued paperwork by the Home Office as he was here illegally.
But he resurfaced on May 18, 2017, when he arrived here with the Portugese passport and handed pre-settled status as a Portugese National. Then he applied for his one-year-old child and wife to settle with him - on the basis he was from Portugal and entitled to remain in the UK under EU provision.
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But his dishonesty was uncovered during a wider operation over the issuing of false passports, leading to police knocking on Patel's door. Scanning of his fingerprints confirmed his identity.
Patel, 39, of Lincoln Road, Newark, also admitted an offence of improperly obtaining a passport, which carries a maximum jail sentence of ten years. His solicitor-advocate, Shannon English, told the court Patel was of previous good character and wanted to provide for his young family.
His is married with a young son with autism. "He knows in a case such as this custody is inevitable," she told the court. "His motivation for his offending was to provide a better life for himself and his family.
"He simply wanted to escape difficulties in his home country." Recorder Balraj Bhatia sentenced him to two years in prison - pointing out that the sentence was over 12 months and he will be subject to automatic deportation.
"I don't make any observation about the people you successful managed to bring into this country - that will be the subject of, no doubt, further investigation in due course."
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