Indian faces deportation

A COURT in Leicester has jailed an Indian who came to the UK five years ago and became the owner of a clothing factory in the city for forging documents, a Leicester Mercury report said.

Lakhu Odedra, also known as Lakhu Patel, studied in the UK until 2012 when his student visa expired and he had to return to India, Leicester crown court heard.

Later, Odedra obtained a forged Portuguese passport and an identity card under the name of Lakhu Patel. In August 2016, he returned to England, settling in Leicester and working for an Indian clothing manufacturer.

He obtained further documents using his fake name so his wife could join him from India. Since January 2019 they have had two children, the report added.

In September, the immigration services raided his home in Sandal Avenue, Leicester, and found the forged documents.

Odedra was jailed for two years and three months. He is set to be deported to India after serving his sentence.

His barrister, Ishan Dave, said Odedra only committed the offences to get a better life for his family.

“He took the decision to come here, not to commit offences or be a burden on the state, but to make a better life for his family,” Dave was quoted as saying by Leicester Mercury.

“He came here with nothing. He worked in a legitimate job, he paid taxes, and he has not offended. My client became owner of a clothing factory. There was ‘some element of nobility’ to Odedra’s story.”

Judge Mark Watson said: “You didn’t arrive in the UK to offend or exploit the resources of this country, but the offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be passed.”

Odedra, who admitted four fraud offences and one immigration offence for bringing his wife to the UK illegally, wept as he was jailed.