Man convicted of sham marriage 10 years later after warrant ‘found in retired police officer’s desk’

He was only arrested after the warrant was found in the desk of a PSNI officer after he retired.

Umair pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to support illegal immigration by “entering into a marriage of convenience”.

Belfast-based Downpatrick Crown Court heard the crime was uncovered on July 3, 2012, when Umair flew from Pakistan to Northern Ireland to meet a woman who arranged passage for him to the UK.

After being charged, Umair, 30, of Halifax Road, Brielfield, Nelson in Lancashire, later failed to appear in court and an arrest warrant was issued for him.

Judge Geoffrey Miller KC said the case should have been heard 10 years ago and Umair was “hiding in plain sight in the north of England”.

He asked why it took 10 years to execute the warrant. Defense attorney Jonathan Browne said the warrant was found in a PSNI officer’s desk after he retired.

He said the PSNI sergeant who found the warrant had contacted the defendant’s lawyer and arrangements had been made for Umair to return to Northern Ireland to have the bank warrant enforced.

“He’s been hiding from the eyes of the police but he’s not given a negative profile in those 10 years,” Mr Browne said.

“He now has an effective UK residence permit, which must be renewed every two and a half years. He has no criminal record.

“He is now married and has children who are British citizens. His wife is a British national and is going to court with him today.”

Judge Miller said it was clear that Umair and the woman, from a Baltic country, flew separately to Northern Ireland “to perform a marriage of convenience with the intention of obtaining a status that would allow him to remain in Britain”. .

“This was discovered by the authorities prior to the sham marriage and you were later questioned on the matter.

“You were subsequently charged and were scheduled to appear at Downpatrick Crown Court in December 2012, but you failed to appear and an arrest warrant was issued for you.

“It was only 10 years later that you voluntarily attended this court and entered a guilty plea to the individual charge, which constitutes a serious criminal offence.”

In handing out the suspended sentence, Judge Miller warned Umair that if he committed any further offenses over the next two years, the case would be brought before him again and he had no choice but to face the 16-month sentence.