Cleared: Border officials interrupted the wedding of Muhammad Hassan Nazir, a Pakistan national, and Bulgarian Tanya Dimitrova Draginova. Above, the couple leave court arm-in-arm this week . A bride and groom who had their wedding interrupted by immigration officers who feared it was a sham marriage have been cleared. Muhammad Hassan Nazir, a Pakistan national, proposed to Bulgarian Tanya Dimitrova Draginova after he was arrested on charges relating to immigration fraud. After being alerted by claims made on Nazir's visa application, border officers raided their ceremony at Lancaster Register Office in a scene that was likened to one from iconic 1960s film The Graduate, the court heard. Miss Draginova later admitted to agreeing to marry Nazir because he had 'a problem', adding that he was a friend and she had only kissed him once. But the pair were cleared of arranging an unlawful marriage at Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday. Nazir, 34, was sentenced to 10 months in jail after admitting to fraudulently staying in the UK. The wedding was described by Judge Peter Hughes QC as one of the 'desperate measures' taken by the defendant to remain in the UK. Tim Evans, prosecuting, compared the 'dramatic' ceremony on October 1 to the closing scene of The Graduate. He said: 'At the end of the film Ben Braddock - the Dustin Hoffman character - storms into a church where a wedding is taking place and stops it happening before running off with the bride. Well, no film set here.' After likening character Ben Braddock to Immigration Officer Steve Halfpenny - who 'too took the bride-to-be-away' - Mr Evans told the court in an interview that Miss Draginova admitted agreeing to marriage because he had a 'problem'. 'He was a friend of a friend and not a boyfriend and she was going to marry him so he didn't have to leave the UK,' said Mr Evans. The court heard she did not know where they would be living after the ceremony and she had only kissed him once. She also said that she did not intend to share a bed with him and the wedding rings had been bought a week or two earlier from Argos. But a jury was directed to a not guilty verdict for one charge of attempting to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception against Nazir, . Miss Draginova was found not guilty of attempting to assist unlawful immigration to a member state. Admission: Miss Draginova (right) later admitted to agreeing to marry Nazir (left) because he had 'a problem', adding that he was a friend and she had only kissed him once. Above, the pair outside Carlisle Crown Court . The court was told how Nazir first came to the UK in 2005 and studied for a degree before securing a post-study work visa which ran out in 2010. Between 2010 and 2013 he had told the immigration authority he was living and working at a restaurant called Bombay Brasserie in Nottingham. But in fact he was working for K Cars in Kendal, Cumbria, and went on to 'run' the company for his Pakistan-based father. When he filled out another application to remain in the UK in July 2012, authorities were alerted by his claim to be working in an eatery in Birmingham while living in Kendal, Cumbria. Mr Evans told the court Nazir proposed to Miss Draginova just after being arrested on August 1 2013, and made arrangements with the registry office in September for their autumn wedding. In mitigation Gulam Ahmed said K Cars had since been sold for £5,000 and Nazir, who was now living in Manchester 'hangs his head in shame'. Mr Hughes said: 'The basis of your application was that you were to work as a full time assistant manager in Nottingham, on 40 hours a week with a salary of £28,000. 'That was the means by which you obtained leave to remain. 'I'm quite satisfied the information you gave about your employment was bogus from the outset.' He added: 'In 2013 you took a number of desperate measures in an attempt to stay in the country. Hollywood moment: Tim Evans, prosecuting, compared the 'dramatic' ceremony on October 1 to the closing scene of The Graduate, pictured above, in which Dustin Hoffman's character fled with the bride-to-be . 'Whether you would have lived together and made a relationship after the ceremony we will never know. At least you've not gone into the witness box and repeated your lies.' Nazir was sentenced to 10 months in prison for obtaining leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception. 'It will be up to the Immigration Authority what happens after that sentence,' added Mr Hughes.
Pakistani Muhammad Nazir was to marry Bulgarian Tanya Draginova .
He arranged wedding after being arrested for fraudulently staying in UK .
Border officials interrupted service fearing that it was unlawful marriage .
Prosecutor likened the scene to one from iconic 1960s film The Graduate .
Cleared: Border officials interrupted the wedding of Muhammad Hassan Nazir, a Pakistan national, and Bulgarian Tanya Dimitrova Draginova. Above, the couple leave court arm-in-arm this week . A bride and groom who had their wedding interrupted by immigration officers who feared it was a sham marriage have been cleared. Muhammad Hassan Nazir, a Pakistan national, proposed to Bulgarian Tanya Dimitrova Draginova after he was arrested on charges relating to immigration fraud. After being alerted by claims made on Nazir's visa application, border officers raided their ceremony at Lancaster Register Office in a scene that was likened to one from iconic 1960s film The Graduate, the court heard. Miss Draginova later admitted to agreeing to marry Nazir because he had 'a problem', adding that he was a friend and she had only kissed him once. But the pair were cleared of arranging an unlawful marriage at Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday. Nazir, 34, was sentenced to 10 months in jail after admitting to fraudulently staying in the UK. The wedding was described by Judge Peter Hughes QC as one of the 'desperate measures' taken by the defendant to remain in the UK. Tim Evans, prosecuting, compared the 'dramatic' ceremony on October 1 to the closing scene of The Graduate. He said: 'At the end of the film Ben Braddock - the Dustin Hoffman character - storms into a church where a wedding is taking place and stops it happening before running off with the bride. Well, no film set here.' After likening character Ben Braddock to Immigration Officer Steve Halfpenny - who 'too took the bride-to-be-away' - Mr Evans told the court in an interview that Miss Draginova admitted agreeing to marriage because he had a 'problem'. 'He was a friend of a friend and not a boyfriend and she was going to marry him so he didn't have to leave the UK,' said Mr Evans. The court heard she did not know where they would be living after the ceremony and she had only kissed him once. She also said that she did not intend to share a bed with him and the wedding rings had been bought a week or two earlier from Argos. But a jury was directed to a not guilty verdict for one charge of attempting to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception against Nazir, . Miss Draginova was found not guilty of attempting to assist unlawful immigration to a member state. Admission: Miss Draginova (right) later admitted to agreeing to marry Nazir (left) because he had 'a problem', adding that he was a friend and she had only kissed him once. Above, the pair outside Carlisle Crown Court . The court was told how Nazir first came to the UK in 2005 and studied for a degree before securing a post-study work visa which ran out in 2010. Between 2010 and 2013 he had told the immigration authority he was living and working at a restaurant called Bombay Brasserie in Nottingham. But in fact he was working for K Cars in Kendal, Cumbria, and went on to 'run' the company for his Pakistan-based father. When he filled out another application to remain in the UK in July 2012, authorities were alerted by his claim to be working in an eatery in Birmingham while living in Kendal, Cumbria. Mr Evans told the court Nazir proposed to Miss Draginova just after being arrested on August 1 2013, and made arrangements with the registry office in September for their autumn wedding. In mitigation Gulam Ahmed said K Cars had since been sold for £5,000 and Nazir, who was now living in Manchester 'hangs his head in shame'. Mr Hughes said: 'The basis of your application was that you were to work as a full time assistant manager in Nottingham, on 40 hours a week with a salary of £28,000. 'That was the means by which you obtained leave to remain. 'I'm quite satisfied the information you gave about your employment was bogus from the outset.' He added: 'In 2013 you took a number of desperate measures in an attempt to stay in the country. Hollywood moment: Tim Evans, prosecuting, compared the 'dramatic' ceremony on October 1 to the closing scene of The Graduate, pictured above, in which Dustin Hoffman's character fled with the bride-to-be . 'Whether you would have lived together and made a relationship after the ceremony we will never know. At least you've not gone into the witness box and repeated your lies.' Nazir was sentenced to 10 months in prison for obtaining leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception. 'It will be up to the Immigration Authority what happens after that sentence,' added Mr Hughes.
Cleared: Border officials interrupted the wedding and Bulgarian Tanya Dimitrova Draginova. Above, that was likened to one from iconic 1960s film fraudulently staying in the UK. The wedding was the closing scene of The Graduate. He said: 'At Draginova just after being arrested on August 1