THREE Nigerian care assistants were working at a psychiatric hospital with fraudulent passports and immigration documents.

They were arrested at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, in Beckenham, after a joint operation by police, the immigration service and NHS investigators.

The two women and one man have now been jailed for a total of 18 months and are recommended for deportation when they are released..

The Bethlem, founded in 1247, is one of the world’s oldest hospitals for the care of people with mental health problems.

Its units include those for psychiatric patients with a high risk of absconding, patients who self-harm, have an eating disorder or drug addiction.

The trio were arrested at the hospital on suspicion of possessing false identity documents .

They appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court the following day and were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Croydon Crown Court.

Asumpta Afelumo-Ayano, 40, of Athelney Street, Catford, was jailed for eight months after she admitted possessing a passport containing counterfeit immigration stamps.

Adeola Adeeso, 39, of Bilbury Close, Southwark, was jailed for six months after he admitted possessing a counterfeit passport and a letter with counterfeit immigration stamps.

Oluwatoyin Balogun, 39, of Jeffreys Walk, Lambeth, was jailed for six months after she admitted possessing a counterfeit passport. They had all pleaded guilty and it is recommended they be deported to Nigeria after their release.

A spokesman for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said the trio were temporary workers from an internal NHS agency and, as care assistants, would have been supervised by senior staff.

He added: “We are pleased with this result. It came about as a result of our own internal audit and investigation.”