AN ILLEGAL immigrant who came to Britain hidden in the back of a lorry has been jailed for trying to use a false passport at Oxford Jobcentre.

Algerian Lounes Toudeft was given a prison sentence at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, after admitting four charges of fraud at an earlier hearing.

The 24-year-old, who was working at Yo Sushi! in Oxford went to the George Street office on October 1 to try to obtain a National Insurance number, the court heard.

He handed over a French passport in the name of Maurice Alfred Nicholas, but staff said it needed further inspection and he was told to come back on October 19.

The document was found to be a forgery and Toudeft, of Helen Road, West Oxford, was arrested when he returned to the Jobcentre.

Sophie Murray, defending, said her client came to Britain two years ago, after pressure was exerted on him to join a terrorist group while he was a student.

He initially bought a false passport in London, which he used to travel to Belgium to pick up the document he presented in Oxford, paying 700 Euros for it.

Recorder Sandeep Kainth said he agreed Toudeft would not have been a “burden on the system” and would have continued to work, had his fraud been successful. He jailed him for 10 months.

Deportation is automatic for foreigners jailed for 12 months or more. Toudeft’s case will be assessed individually.