​An asylum seeker who funded a lavish lifestyle after claiming more than £30,000 in Government cash has been jailed for fraud.

Lina Dia Bavi was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and using a bogus identity document.

The 34-year-old, who was believed to come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, used several false identities and fake passports to maintain a comfortable lifestyle at the taxpayers’ expense.

He was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court following an investigation by the UK Border Agency.

Bavi started to claim asylum support in 2008 via his partner – from Cheriton Crescent, Swansea – who was entitled to benefits while her asylum claim was considered.

 Asylum seekers are not permitted to work while their claims are ongoing. However,  while he was receiving asylum support, Bavi was working illegally for Delphi Diesel Systems in Stonehouse, where he earned more than £20,000.

Bavi used his illegally-obtained wages – and the Government benefits he received – to buy expensive goods, such as a plasma TV, laptop and MP3 player.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said it would now take steps to deport Bavi at the end of his sentence.

 The agency will also seek to recoup the benefits Bavi fraudulently received.

Gwyn Griffiths, of the UK Border Agency’s regional immigration crime team, said: “Asylum benefits are designed to support people while their claim for international protection is decided.

“Bavi abused the system, not to avoid poverty and destitution but to fund a lifestyle to which he wasn’t entitled.

“The courts have handed him a jail term which we hope will act as a deterrent to others and we will take steps to deport him at the end of his sentence.

“We will now start clawing back the money he has stolen from law-abiding taxpayers.”