Lawyer Christian Jideofo has been jailed for his part in a £2million immigration fraud.

Jideofo, 40, of Kingston Road, New Barnet, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years for his part in a money spinning scam which allowed at least 76 illegal immigrants into the UK.

Father of two Jideofo, who has two university degrees, was himself an illegal immigrant from Nigeria before a marriage described by the court as 'one of convenience.'

The trainee lawyer operated an immigration service from offices on the Kilburn High Road. In exchange for between £3,000 and £5,000, Jideofo's customers would be handed fake passports, visas and a list of answers to give in case they were quizzed by customs officials.

He worked in tandem with a Gatwick Airport official, Guy Emmett, who lived a lavish lifestyle on the proceeds of his crooked activities.

Emmett, of Surrey, who admitted spending £250,000 over an eight month period, used an entry stamp stolen from Gatwick to allow immigrants through customs between 1992 and 1996.

He appeared with Jideofo before Judge Timothy Pontius at the Old Bailey on Friday where he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The judge told Jideofo: 'This case in my view must be regarded not merely as a serious example of its kind. It is as serious an example as anyone can imagine.'

Immigrants from Gambia, Ghana, Jamaica and Nigeria took advantage of the fraud which police believe involved far more than the 76 people found by the CPS.

Prosecutor Mark Gadsden said: 'Significantly 76 is only the visible tip of a much larger iceberg.'