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Vicar Nicked Over 180 Fake Weddings

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  • Vicar Nicked Over 180 Fake Weddings

    VICAR NICKED OVER 180 FAKE WEDDINGS
    By Harry Haydon

    The Sun
    Juluy 1, 2009

    A VICAR was under arrest last night as cops grilled him over 180 SHAM
    marriages - staged so illegal immigrants can stay here.

    Rev Alex Brown, 61, was held in a dawn swoop on his rectory that
    shocked his seaside parishioners.

    The dramatic raid followed an 18-month probe into an alleged scam
    in which Eastern Europeans and other foreigners were able to claim
    residency by tying the knot.

    Immigration officials had suspended applications from anyone getting
    married at the C of E vicar's St Peter and St Paul Church more than
    a year ago.

    Church ... weddings venue John Connor Press Associates Last night
    one elderly member of his flock in St Leonards, East Sussex, said:
    "I am stunned.

    "I have known the vicar for 18 years and he is a wonderful priest. He
    was so caring to me when I lost my husband and he goes out of his
    way to look after alcoholics and drug addicts. If he has thrown away
    his long, loyal service to the Church to do something so stupid I'll
    be devastated."

    The vicar has given sermons in the town - next to Hastings - for more
    than 20 years. The raid on his rectory was one of four staged by more
    than 35 police and officers from the UK Border Agency.

    Advertisement A Ukrainian man aged 32 and a 27-year-old Latvian -
    thought to be one of the brides - were also arrested along with an
    Armenian man aged 36.

    Rev Brown - due to retire next month - is being held on suspicion of
    facilitating the illegal entry of people into Britain.

    Det Inspector Andy Cummins confirmed the sham marriages said to have
    been arranged at the church totalled "nearly 180".

    Chichester Diocese said it had suspended the vicar.

    The Bishop of Lewes was described as having heard of the arrest
    "with great sadness".
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