Gang jailed for passports scam that let serious criminals go on the run

Anthony Beard also obtained fake passports for Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt, Irish drug kingpin Christy Kinahan Snr and firearms trafficker Richard Burdett, although these were not part of the trial

Composite of undated National Crime Agency handout photos of (left to right) Alan Thompson, Anthony Beard and Christopher Zietek, who were part of a gang who supplied falsified passports to fugitive criminals including murderers, drug dealers and gun traffickers (NCA/PA)

A gang who supplied “golden ticket” falsified passports to fugitive criminals including murderers and drug dealers has been jailed.

Anthony Beard, who paid vulnerable people for their expired passports so he could apply for renewals using their names but criminals’ photos, was sentenced to six years and eight months at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday.