A woman from Swaffham who admitted entering into a sham marriage with a Brazilian national so he could try to gain entry to this country has been given a six-month suspended jail sentence.

Neuza Pais, 30, who comes from Portugal but who is now living at Carter Close, Swaffham, admitted assisting Luciano Salgueiro to enter the country illegally by a sham marriage, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said that Mr Salgueiro was stopped when he tried to come into Britain and was sent back to Brazil.

Mr Ivory said that Pais was spoken to by UK Border officers and she accepted the marriage was a sham.

'She had never lived with him and admitted she had entered into the agreement with the Brazilian so he could obtain European status.'

He said that Pais had four children in Portugal and one child who lived with her in this country.

Sentencing her to a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years Recorder Guy Ayers told her: 'In February this year you became involved in an attempt to get Mr Salgueiro, a Brazilian into this country. Fortunately your attempt failed and he was sent back to Brazil. You have five children here and in Portugal and you have got to look at making them a priority rather than assisting other people trying to get into this country.'

He also made her subject to a four-month curfew and warned her if she tried anything like this again she would face going to prison for a significant amount of time.