Five Albanian men have been charged for allegedly faking marriages to enter the UK. The group are accused of using counterfeit licences to claim they were married to EU citizens who had a right to live in Britain under a Brexit scheme which allowed them to stay in the UK after the country exited the bloc.

Kastriot Hoxha, 31, Sina Ervin, 35, Kadri Sinamati, 28, and Valdet Qoshi, 40, were charged with fraud and immigration offences. They were remanded in custody and are due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on July 16 for a plea hearing. Mr Hoxha was also charged with possession of cannabis.

Fifth man, Denis Hani, 30, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and two other offences. He was charged on June 17 and pleaded guilty the next day at Birkenhead Magistrates’ Court.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on July 16 at Liverpool Crown Court.

The suspects were arrested during Home Office raids across England and Wales on Wednesday (June 17).

They allegedly obtained fake marriage certificates which appeared to show they got married in Cyprus to EU nationals who had a right to live in Britain.

Shaun Sigamoney from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Prosecutors have charged these men with fraud and immigration offences over alleged fake marriages so they could live in the UK.

"While one man has pleaded guilty that has no bearing on the case of the other four who are innocent until proven guilty.

"We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and they have the right to a fair trial."

He added: "It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."