A Muslim community leader who falsely claimed he had been kidnapped by members of the British National Party was exposed as a Suspected Benefits Cheat who was in this country illegally.

Noor Ramjanally, told police that racist thugs had abducted him at knifepoint and threatened him with violence.

Ramjanally's account was exposed as a lie by cameras fitted secretly outside his flat after earlier claims that he had received racist hate mail and that the family's home had been firebombed. Footage revealed that on the day of the alleged kidnapping Ramjanally had left home by himself, and police established that he wandered around a branch of Homebase before dialling 999.

Ramjanally was given a two-year jail term after being convicted of perverting the course of justice. However he was not in court - he had fled back to his native Mauritius after admitting he was in this country illegally, staying on after his tourist visa expired.

Before his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, he sent police a taunting email from the Indian Ocean island, telling them "I am enjoying the sun." The authorities were left to decide whether he should be extradited to serve his sentence.