A MAN who entered Britain illegally claimed more than £13,000 in benefits he was not entitled to while employed by an Evesham company.

Rasoul Nabi was jailed for 15 months at Worcester Crown Court.

He worked for Kanes Foods in Middle Littleton for four years after producing a forged Home Office form indicating there were no restrictions on him taking a job. But he was prohibited from working while his application for asylum was being processed, said Alex Warren, prosecuting.

Two months after he began work his asylum application was rejected but he kept his job until November 25 last year when he was arrested.

Nabi, aged 24, of Cheltenham Road, Evesham, pleaded guilty to five fraud and deception offences. Jailing him, Judge John Cavell said he had earned £52,523 but pretended to be destitute to obtain a total of £13,386 asylum support.

Mr Warren said Nabi was given legitimate financial help while his claim was considered.

But after securing a job he failed to notify the authorities under the requirements of the Immigation Act. His last claim for emergency support was still being processed when police arrested him.

Nabi was a man of previous good character and a deportation notice had been served on him.

He worked as a shepherd in his native Iraq, but fled to Britain secretly on the back of a lorry in January 2003 to escape the oppressive Saddam Hussein regime. His initial claim for financial support had been valid, said David Taylor, defending.

He worked hard, paid his taxes and did not try to change his identity.

Mr Taylor said he bought the forged Home Office form from another man.