OBSERVANT staff at the regional passport office nipped in the bud a fraudulent application by a man living illegally in this country.

A Jamaican national submitted a stolen birth certificate as part of an application for a UK passport, Durham Crown Court was told.

But an alert official at the Durham office of the Identity and Passport Service discovered it was among a batch of previously stolen birth certificates.

Patrick Minnott, 31, who made the application using the name Charlie Broomfield, was invited to Durham for an interview about the application, in April.

Durham Crown Court was told police were informed when he confirmed making the application, and, when arrested, Minnott revealed his true identity.

He told officers he came from Jamaica on a six-month visa to study at Lambeth College, south London, in 1999, but stayed after a visa extension was refused.

The court heard Minnott has worked as a door supervisor and had been living with lawfully resident extended family members, in the West Midlands.

He said he feared returning to Jamaica, having given information to police which may have repercussions.

Lorraine Mustard, prosecuting, said Minnott admitted buying the birth certificate and a National Insurance number from a woman who approached him, knowing his status. He paid £1,000 for the documentation early last year.

Minnot, of previous good character, living until his arrest in Oldbury, Birmingham, admitted fraudulent possession of a birth certificate and making an untrue statement to obtain a passport.

Stuart Graham, mitigating, said: "Going back to Jamaica may not be as bad as some places in the world, at the moment.

"This was rather silly. He simply wanted to get a passport so he could continue working in this country.

"He's very candid, saying he would have a better life here and, having been here so long, would find it hard to have to leave."

Jailing him for nine months, Recorder Colin Burn told Minnott: "I take into account you entered the country lawfully, and I'm treating you as a UK resident who has committed a serious fraud against public administration."

Minnott's future in this country is now a matter for the Immigration Service.