A GAMBIAN man who first came to the UK on a legal student visa 10 years ago has been given a prison sentence and faces deportation after it was discovered he used false documents to get work in Worcester.

Momodou Sabally pleaded guilty to six charges of using false documents to provide information about his immigration status, all of them relating to a fake stamp in his passport and a letter from the Home Office.

Worcester Crown Court heard how 35-year-old Sabally first used the letter and stamp, which claimed he could work in the UK legally, to get work through Best Connection, Queen Street, Lowesmoor, Worcester, in July 2008, earning £8,749.

Two years later, in August 2008, Sabally used the same documents to get work with BPI, based on Blackpole Trading Estate.

David Iles, prosecuting, said he had earned just under £30,000 in the time he worked for them.

The fraudulent documents were discovered when Sabally, of Moreton Place, Worcester city centre, was arrested by police in March.

Nicholas Berry, defending, said his client had been described by those he worked with as “a really nice bloke” with “a good work ethic”.

Mr Berry said Sabally now wanted to return to his home country, where his mother and other relatives still lived. He had even had meetings with the UK Border Agency to discuss voluntary deportation.

Recorder John Butterfield said: “In 2000 you entered this country legally – but studying was the limit of what you were permitted to do. The offences you committed are aggravated by the length of time between you using the false documents and the fact you used them on more than one occasion.”

But Mr Smith said Sabally’s aim to make a better life and work hard were “laudable”, even if they were not legal.

Sabally was given an eight month prison sentence. He has already served 95 days.