A 'cowboy' immigration adviser who
conned two asylum seekers out of £1,000 has been jailed after being
caught working illegally three times.
Muhammed Shakoori, 62, was offering immigration advice despite being stripped of his licence to do so in 2009.
The businessman, from Manchester, was running his business last year even though he had twice been reprimanded by the authorities.
He was warned he would be jailed if he was caught operating illegally again when he appeared in court in June last year.
But Shakoori ignored the courts and charged the asylum seekers £1,000 for his advice.
He was caught when one of the victims, from Algeria, searched for his name on the internet and read about his previous convictions, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.
Brothers Mokhtar and Aissa Menassel, paid Shakoori nearly £1,000 in fees before becoming suspicious of his credentials when their immigration claims failed.
They then reported him to the Immigration Services Commissioner. Under the law, immigration advisers must have a licence to prove they are up to the job.
Shakoori had been stripped of his in 2009 but was caught offering immigration advice without a licence in 2010 and then again twice last year.
The judge found him guilty of six charges - two of providing independent immigration advice while not qualified and four of falsely advertising his business, APNA LLP, online, in a magazine and on signs outside his office in Longsight, Manchester.
On the day he was jailed, the signs were still outside his office.
Both brothers had earlier given evidence to the court - saying Shakoori's actions had 'messed us up'.
A frail Shakoori, representing himself, said he had only given secretarial 'support' to the men and hadn't offered advice.
He had also argued that his daughter had been in charge of the company despite the fact she has a pharmacy degree.
But Judge Jonathan Taaffe rejected those claims ans said the use of the word 'support' was a 'cynical' attempt to flout the regulations.
Jailing Shakoori for four months, he said: 'Immediate custody is necessary as a deterrent both to yourself and other cowboy operators who seek to avoid the regulations and prey upon vulnerable individuals.'
In his own mitigation, Shakoori had told the court he had diabetes and heart problems.
He was already serving a suspended six-month sentence because of his previous convictions - and must wait to find out if a hearing at Manchester Crown Court decides adds to his jail term.
Muhammed Shakoori, 62, was offering immigration advice despite being stripped of his licence to do so in 2009.
The businessman, from Manchester, was running his business last year even though he had twice been reprimanded by the authorities.
He was warned he would be jailed if he was caught operating illegally again when he appeared in court in June last year.
But Shakoori ignored the courts and charged the asylum seekers £1,000 for his advice.
He was caught when one of the victims, from Algeria, searched for his name on the internet and read about his previous convictions, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.
Brothers Mokhtar and Aissa Menassel, paid Shakoori nearly £1,000 in fees before becoming suspicious of his credentials when their immigration claims failed.
They then reported him to the Immigration Services Commissioner. Under the law, immigration advisers must have a licence to prove they are up to the job.
Shakoori had been stripped of his in 2009 but was caught offering immigration advice without a licence in 2010 and then again twice last year.
The judge found him guilty of six charges - two of providing independent immigration advice while not qualified and four of falsely advertising his business, APNA LLP, online, in a magazine and on signs outside his office in Longsight, Manchester.
On the day he was jailed, the signs were still outside his office.
Both brothers had earlier given evidence to the court - saying Shakoori's actions had 'messed us up'.
A frail Shakoori, representing himself, said he had only given secretarial 'support' to the men and hadn't offered advice.
He had also argued that his daughter had been in charge of the company despite the fact she has a pharmacy degree.
But Judge Jonathan Taaffe rejected those claims ans said the use of the word 'support' was a 'cynical' attempt to flout the regulations.
Jailing Shakoori for four months, he said: 'Immediate custody is necessary as a deterrent both to yourself and other cowboy operators who seek to avoid the regulations and prey upon vulnerable individuals.'
In his own mitigation, Shakoori had told the court he had diabetes and heart problems.
He was already serving a suspended six-month sentence because of his previous convictions - and must wait to find out if a hearing at Manchester Crown Court decides adds to his jail term.