AN alert civil servant rumbled an asylum seeker's bogus passport application, a court heard.

The Durham office of the Identity and Passport Service received the passport renewal application in the name of Ho Sin Li, claiming his original was lost.

But Durham Crown Court was told that suspicions were aroused as an official spotted the accompanying photograph did not match that of Mr Li.

As a result, the applicant was invited to the office, at Milburngate House, for an interview, on May 8.

Richard Cowen, prosecuting, said a Vietnamese man, Quang van Ngo, turned up for the interview, claiming to be Mr Li.

He confirmed it was his signature on the application and police were called.

It resulted in Ngo and his partner, Lin Khoan Phung, a woman of Vietnamese origin, being arrested.

Phung, the former wife of Mr Li, confirmed she filled in the details on the application form on behalf of Ngo.

They admitted it was an attempt to enable Ngo to receive a British passport.

Ngo, 33, and 46-year-old Phung, both of Brook Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, each admitted making a fraudulent passport application.

Jane Waugh, mitigating for the couple, said neither had been in previous trouble with the police.

"They did this because they love each other and want to make a family with Mrs Phung's children, not because they are terrorists, or because they wanted to obtain benefits in this country.

"Mr Ngo is entitled to benefits as an asylum seeker, but doesn't claim any, and Mrs Phung has her own business."

Judge Esmond Faulks imposed nine-month prison sentences on both, suspended for two years.

"You tried obtaining a passport using the details of Mrs Phung's ex-husband, Mr Li.

"Obtaining a passport in a false name is a very serious offence and prison sentences are usually passed but, in your case, due to your circumstances, I propose suspending the sentence."

Judge Faulks ordered Phung, who runs a nail bar, to also pay £300 costs.