James Mcdonald, 60, from Stirling, was offering Pakistani nationals advice on their immigration. He claimed to be working on a no win, no fee basis, but took money for ‘expenses’ from his clients and also took £1000 from the Methodist Church of Britain who were providing financial support for one his victims.

He has been fined £5000 and ordered to pay £6000 in costs for illegally representing the 5 Pakistani nationals whose visas to remain in the UK had expired. The 5 men are currently being held in a detention centre.

He was investigated after it was noticed that he was not among those listed as in a position to provide advice on immigration. Mr Mcdonald is appealing, claiming that he was within the law by representing these immigrants, as they had parents who were alive and born before 1948 and are entitled to British citizenship under a 1948 act.

“I am appealing the ruling of the judge on the interpretation of the Immigration and Asylum Act and I am optimistic. There are millions of people entitled to come to this country: they are migrants, not immigrants. This case has nothing to do with immigration or asylum.”

Mr Mcdonald has previously served a seven year prison sentence concerning the handling of counterfeit money. It was the biggest money laundering scam ever discovered in Scotland.

Mr Mcdonald is currently awaiting the results of a tribunal to ascertain whether he can claim back VAT on petrol he was selling for 35p a litre, the cheapest price in Britain.

Carys is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.