A bogus barrister who made tens of thousands of pounds forging Home Office documents to keep failed asylum seekers in Britain has been jailed for 46 months.

Munir Rafiq, 46, posed as a lawyer who could fast track’ asylum applications in return for backhanders of up to £15,000.

He was so plausible as a barrister he got work from a string of legal firms and represented asylum seekers at Croydon Magistrates’ Court despite only having a basic law degree.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Rafiq, who used the alias Khan, pocketed more than £100,000.

He provided them with false passports and documents, the court heard last Thursday.

But the scandal came to light after Rafiq supplied false papers to a 50-year-old Pakistani widow in Essex for £15,000, telling her he could get her application approved.

She agreed to pay in installment after handing over her passport and that of her son.

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