Three people who ran an immigration consultancy business in Southall were jailed yesterday for running one of the UK's biggest visa scams.

Rakhi Shahi, 31, an illegal immigrant from India was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud, handling criminal property and immigration offences. She was jailed for eight years.

Solicitor Jatinder Kumar Sharma, 44, her husband and accomplice, who pleaded guilty in March before the trial was jailed to seven years.

He admitted seeking or obtaining leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception, possession of identity document with intent, conspiracy to defraud, possessing criminal property and two counts of theft.

Neelam Sharma, 38, also thought to be Sharma's wife of 20 years, was found guilty of money laundering i.e. handling some of the cash in the scam. She was jailed for four years.

She was cleared of conspiracy to defraud and immigration offences.

All three lived in Clarence Street in Southall. Marriage to both women took place in India.

They created thousands of bogus documents including university certificates, bank statements, pay slips and references to secure UK visas including student visas.

When the Metropolitan Police and the UK Border Agency raided Univisas offices on The Crescent in Southall, they found 90,000 documents.

Police suspect the company secured visas for at least 1,000 people using a network of bogus colleges around the England.

The scam was worth more than £1.5m over two years. Police have so far seized £420,000.

All three face deportation at the end of their sentences.