60 quizzed over sham marriages

Sixty people have been arrested and more than 40 are still wanted in connection with a huge investigation into sham marriages to illegal immigrants in the West Midlands, detectives revealed today.

Detective Inspector Wayne Jones revealed the full scale of the police probe as a mother and son were due to face justice. Patricia and Jason Williams from Dudley have watched six members of their family go to jail for their part in the scheme and were due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court.

Widow Williams, aged 61, and her 38-year-old son, both of St John's Road, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching immigration laws by taking part in fake marriages.

Natalie Williams, 26, Luke Williams, 24, Brett Williams, 31, David Williams, 32, and Amanda Williams, who live in Dudley, Rowley Regis and Handsworth, were jailed in June after admitting their involvement in the scam.

Ringleader Venrick Clarke, of Vicarage Road, Langley, was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Mr Jones said Clarke had "used" drug and alcohol addicts, promising them £2,000 a time for taking part in a marriage. He said: "This was an extremely intense investigation. Sixty people have been arrested and the UK Border Agency is looking at another 40 foreign nationals who may be deported."