AN asylum seeker who used a fake passport to fly to Pakistan has been jailed for 12 months.

Fakhar Saif, aged 54, of Booth Road, Little Lever, was found guilty of possession of false identification documents.

Saif had bought the fake passport for £3,000 and used the passport at Manchester Airport to fly to Islamabad.

He wanted to fly to Pakistan to see his wife and daughter, who was getting married.

Saif has been living in the UK since 1996. On October 29, he was caught at Manchester Airport using the fake passport under a false name of Khan.

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, prosecutor Mark Kellet said: “He attempted to get through customs with a bought passport. He was arrested and detained.

“He admitted that his name was Saif, he was not a UK national and was not eligible for a UK passport.”

Robert Lancaster, defending, said: “He is a proper member of the community and is somewhat an expert of British history. He wants to stay in Britain and wants to play his part in society.

“He is someone who desperately wants to stay in the country. This offence is highly regrettable as there are other things that he could have done to go back to Pakistan.”

On passing sentence, Judge Andrew Lowcock said: “This offence is so serious, there must be a custodial sentence. You were using a false passport.”