A PAIR of fraudsters who made thousands of pounds from a sophisticated fake identity business have been caged for a total of seven-and-a-half years.

Andrius Ezerskis, 25, of Sylvan Road, Snaresbrook, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court after pleading guilty to making and supplying false identity documents.

His accomplice Lithuanian-born Giedrus Domkus, 34, of South Woodford, was sentenced on July 16, after pleading guilty to possession of articles for use in fraud, identity documents with intent and related articles.

Operating from a flat in Whitehall Lodge, Bentley Way, South Woodford, the men produced thousands of fake articles using a host of high-tech equipment.

The documents - which included false European identity documents, UK Driving Licences, European driving licences, utility bills and banking documents as well numerous European passports - would have been used to defraud financial institutions, the UK benefit system and businesses, and gain false identities in order to commit crime.

The pair were arrested in November last year following an intelligence-led operation by officers from the Metropolitan Police - Organised Immigration Crime team, SCD6 Operation Maxim.

Investigating officer DC Joel Watson said: "This was a highly organised and significant operation that had connections across the UK and Europe.

"The documents created by these men could have been purchased by the criminal fraternity in order to commit crime, and potentially defraud the UK benefits system, prices range from £50 for a national insurance card to thousands of pounds for a British passport.

"This was a joint proactive operation carried out by SCD6 Maxim and our partners the UK Border Agency. It demonstrates our commitment to tackling organised immigration crime, and to dismantling criminal networks".