Operating from a tiny two-room office, Ugandan Arthur Ntanda was said to have driven "coach and horses" through Britain's immigration laws.

London's Southwark Crown court heard that he posed as the head of a further education college and a string of recruitment agencies.

Ntanda, 24, who lived in Tottenham, north London, used them to apply for work permits and student visas in a lucrative operation.

The court heard that Ntanda charged �1,000 for each application whether it was successful or not.

'Huge organised network'

His clients, attracted by advertisements in various African publications or simply by word of mouth, either wanted to settle in Britain or were already here and wished to remain.

The one-man operation came to light when it was discovered he had lied on a driving licence application form.

He was arrested but charged in connection with the work permits alone, offences which were said in court to represent the "tip of the iceberg".

Immigration Service investigators are continuing their inquiries.

"We have disrupted a huge organised network," said Adrian Norvill, who helped unearth his activities.

Deportation order

How much he made may never be known though.

But he drove a BMW in Britain, while documents have been found which suggest he part owns an apartment complex near Mombasa, Kenya, said Mr Norvill.

He admitted eight counts of facilitating leave to remain in the UK by deception between March and December 2002.

The court heard each count related to a separate work permit application made to the Home Office.

Ntanda who first arrived in Britain in June 1999 in an unsuccessful asylum bid, was also ordered to be deported.