A former barrister has been jailed for his role in a massive immigration scam that netted millions of pounds.

Syed Ahmed, 36, of Havelock Terrace, Sunderland, was imprisoned for eight and a half years on Monday for his role in a bogus college and immigration advisory firm in London.

He was on of five people arrested following an investigation by the UK Border Agency's London Immigration Team.

Ahmed was found guilty of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration following a three week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

He was cleared of money laundering charges.

The other four members of the conspiracy included, Ahmed's Chinese wife, Junjie Kao, 30, as well as other Chinese and Bangladeshi nationals.

The gang's conspiracy involved Thames College London, which purported to offer genuine courses of education from premises in Whitechapel, but in fact offered none.

Ahmed was listed as a lecturer in law.

The gang would provide fake documents and certificates through the college, which were then used to support visa applications to the Home Office for their 'clients'.

Those applications were processed by a legal company called Virgil Legal Services Ltd, for which Ahmed was the accredited legal adviser.

The whole operation netted millions and £2.65 million pounds in cash was discovered by UK Border Agency officers stuffed into boxes and suitcases underneath a bed in the flat Ahmed shared with Kao and another of the gang in Lower Road, Rotherhithe, south east London.

Detective Superintendent Chris Foster, Head of the UK Border Agency's London Immigration Crime teams said: "The amount of cash seized from here highlights the attraction that immigration crime has for criminal gangs. A financial asset stripping investigation is ongoing."

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime.