A bogus immigration adviser who conned £20,000 out of his clients while giving some the wrong information resulting in their deportation has been jailed.

Amit Banerjee posed as a qualified advocate on immigration matters in Brent pocketing the five-figure sum between July and December 2012.

Harrow Crown Court heard the 53-year-old charged people who wished to acquire various forms of status to remain in this country legally.

He told some to submit a particular application form which in most cases would have been inappropriate for them, and in some cases led to them being thrown out of the country.

Banerjee was arrested at Heathrow Airport trying to board a plane to India and was charged with illegally providing advice under Section 91 of the immigration and Asylums act 1991.

He was sentenced to 10 months in prison last month.

Suzanne McCarthy from the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), said: “We have clear standards outlining what we expect in terms of the fitness and competence of regulated advisers.

“Banerjee chose to operate outside the law, and without regard for the protection of his clients. Illegally providing immigration advice is a very serious offence.

“We will continue to work alongside our partner organisations to tackle this type of crime.”