A LIVERPOOL Crown Court judge launched an attack on the Government's immigration system as he jailed a drug minder who was in this country illegally.

Judge Ian Trigger said “hundreds and hundreds of thousands” of illegal immigrants were abusing the “completely lax immigration policy” operated in the UK. He added that this was creating “an enormous strain on resources which are already badly stretched”.

He made the scathing comments as he jailed Jamaican Lucien McClearley, 31, for a total of two years for offences including taking a vehicle without consent, possessing cannabis and cocaine, possessing a Class B drug with intent, and two counts of possessing false identity.

He was arrested after police noticed a car he was driving smelt of cannabis as they stopped him on February 15. They discovered bags of cannabis and when he was searched they discovered a fraudulent driving licence. A further search of the house where he was staying on Everton Road, Everton, revealed more than £7,200 worth of cannabis, a gram of cocaine and a fake passport.

Judge Trigger said: “Your case illustrates all too clearly the completely lax immigration policing that exists and has existed over recent years in this country.

“People like you, and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people like you, come to these shores from foreign countries to avail themselves of the generous welfare benefits that exist here.”