AFTER three years justice has finally caught up with a man who helped arrange a sham marriage that was busted by police at Winchester Register Office in 2014.

Oliver Attie, 34, a defendant in the conspiracy trial, absconded the day before the jury reached verdicts at Winchester Crown Court in June 2015.

Attie was arrested in Bromley, south-east London on Tuesday, June 12, and brought before Judge Keith Cutler, who presided over the 2015 trial, jailed him for two years.

The sentence was 18 months for the sham marriage conspiracy with six months added for disappearing.

Prosecuting, Ellie Fargin said Attie had helped arrange the wedding at the register office, then on Station Hill, in February 2014.

As the bride and groom made arrangements at the office before the bust Attie was in the city centre with over £1,000 in cash in his pocket, a his fee for fixing the marriage.

Mitigating, Simon Walters said his client, a father of two girls, aged six and 13, had skipped bail because of a breakdown in a relationship. He has since been working as a DJ and keeping out of trouble.

But he came to the notice of the police this week and record checks showed the warrant for his arrest.

Mr Walters said that when stopped by the police "he gave his name knowing the long shadow would creep up on him, and here he is."

Sentencing, Judge Cutler, Recorder of Winchester, said: "This was a conspiracy to deceive with a sham marriage. The whole enterprise was a dishonest attempt to get residential status. It does affect the sanctity and status of marriage and a dishonest attempt to evade lawful controls on immigration."

His co-accused in the conspiracy were either jailed or received suspended sentences.

The court heard Attie is also accused of possessing a false Belgian identity document. He denies the charge and a trial in Winchester is in the autumn.