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'Sham marriage' plot four jailed 'Sham marriage' plot four jailed
(20 minutes later)
A man who admitted trying to "sell" his sister into a sham marriage for £8,000 to help Chinese immigrants to stay in the UK has been jailed by a judge. A man who admitted trying to "sell" his vulnerable sister into a sham marriage as part of a Chinese immigration scam has been jailed.
Michael Wright, 22, of Wiltshire, who pleaded guilty to immigration and perjury offences, was given four years. Michael Wright, 22, from Wiltshire, was sentenced to four years after admitting immigration and perjury offences.
His sister, 24, was put into social services care after Reading Register Office was raided at the wedding ceremony, Reading Crown Court heard. His sister, 24, who has learning difficulties, was put into social services care after the fake wedding at Reading Register Office was raided.
Three Chinese people were also jailed and will be deported. Three Chinese people were also jailed at Reading Crown Court.
Wright was arrested at the service in August last year, as was the would-be groom Ligang Qiao, 29. Wright was arrested at the service on 20 August last year, as was the would-be groom Ligang Qiao, 29.
Ligang and another two Chinese nationals, Li Fan, 33, and her boyfriend Bing Liu, 30, also admitted taking part in the plot.Ligang and another two Chinese nationals, Li Fan, 33, and her boyfriend Bing Liu, 30, also admitted taking part in the plot.
Ligang was jailed for 15 months, Li for 18 months and Bing for two years.Ligang was jailed for 15 months, Li for 18 months and Bing for two years.
All three will be deported after serving their sentences.
Staff suspicious
Wright had conspired with the three of them to allow Ligang to marry his sister in exchange for £8,000 so that he would gain UK residency, the court was told.Wright had conspired with the three of them to allow Ligang to marry his sister in exchange for £8,000 so that he would gain UK residency, the court was told.
But staff at the register office became suspicious about the marriage and police and the UK Border Agency were alerted.
The court heard that Wright had also previously married Li Fan in another sham wedding in April 2008, for which he had been paid £4,000.
Li Fan and Bing Liu were arrested on the day of the raid on 20 August
Wright admitted two counts of assisting unlawful entry into the UK and two counts of perjury.
Ligang, who lived at Mill Lane in Reading, admitted two counts of perjury.
Li admitted two counts of perjury and obtaining leave to remain in the UK by deception, while Bing Liu pleaded guilty to attempting to assist illegal immigration into the UK.
The couple were arrested at their home in Erleigh Road in Reading on the day of the raid at the register office.
Becky Owen, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The sentences today reflect the seriousness of the arrangements orchestrated by Wright and the other defendants.
"Together they deceived the authorities to enable the Chinese nationals to live in the UK unlawfully.
"In Wright's case, his victim was extremely vulnerable and his actions showed a preference for financial gain over her well-being."