THE owner of a Darwen restaurant faces a possible jail sentence after employing and housing an illegal immigrant.

Blackburn magistrates heard Makhlis Ali had been hit with a £10,000 fine when the UK Border Agency discovered two illegals working in the Anaz in June 2010.

But when they returned in January Border Agency investigators found Mohammed Rubel Ahmed still working in the restaurant and living in accommodation above.

Ali, of Parkes Way, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to providing accommodation and employment to a person illegally present in the UK, facilitating a breach of immigration law.

He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were inadequate.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the Borders Agency first visited the restaurant in April when three illegal immigrants were found working and living there and Ali was served with a warning notice.

He was hit with the £10,000 fine in June when there were still two illegals working and living on the premises.

When they returned in January, Mohammed Abdul Rubel Ahmed was working.

When Ali was interviewed he said he knew Mr Ahmed was from Bangladesh and needed a work permit.

He then claimed he had only been working for about an hour and denied knowing he was living above the restaurant.

“He changed his account several times during the interview,” said Miss Akhtar.

“Abdul Ahmed admitted working at the restaurant and said he had begged Ali for help.”

Isaac Mirza, defending, said his client had no previous convictions.

He said Mr Ahmed had been in the UK legally until 2007 and accepted that he had put Ali under “immense emotional pressure” to allow him to carry on working while his situation was resolved.

“He concedes he made accommodation available to Mr Ahmed but says that when the Border Agency made their inspection in January he was only helping out in the restaurant because two members of staff were off sick,” said Mr Mirza.