An illegal immigrant was caught wandering around a hospital's A&E department with a fake doctor’s ID in an attempt to impress his would-be in-laws.

The fraud, who posed as a senior clinician, was arrested after being challenged by suspicious staff at Maidstone Hospital.

It is understood the scam happened as part of the Pakistani man’s bid to marry into a wealthy Indian family.

Suspicions were raised among hospital staff when the family visited A&E and made enquiries about the ‘doctor’.

He was then seen shortly afterwards walking through the corridors and stopped.

The 34-year-old did not have any contact with patients or reach any secure areas.

Police were called to the Hermitage Lane hospital in the early hours of June 15 after security staff detained the bogus doctor.

A police spokesman confirmed a man from the Maidstone area was handed over to Home Office immigration enforcement officers.

The Home Office said he has since been moved to an immigration detention centre, while "steps are taken to remove him from the country".

Claire O'Brien, chief nurse for the trust's two hospitals, confirmed the incident in a letter sent to colleagues the next day.

She wrote: "An incident took place at Maidstone Hospital where the identity of a man claiming to be a locum doctor was questioned by our security and A&E staff.

"The incident was handled very well and there are no other issues, but it does offer a timely opportunity for all staff to be reminded about security within our hospitals.

"If you have suspicions over someone's identity, please ask to see their identity badge."

One witness, who asked not to be named, was at the hospital's A&E department when the intruder was discovered.

She saw a woman asking reception staff if a particular medic worked there and lots of discussions before security brought a man out.

The witness added: "They took him over to reception where the receptionist stood up and said: ‘I understand you’re a doctor, can I see your ID please.'”

According to the witness, the man showed the receptionist his ID card but admitted he wasn't actually a doctor.

"We can assure the public that none of our patients were involved in any way..." - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman

She continued: "The man turned around and said he wasn’t a doctor and that wasn’t a photo of him on the ID. The receptionist told him it was fraud and called the police straight away, around six police officers arrived in minutes.

"He was later brought out of a room in handcuffs.

"I don’t know how long he’d been in the hospital before he was caught or if he was with any other people."

A Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman said: “While we cannot comment for legal reasons on the specific nature of this incident, it shows how seriously we take the security and safety of our patients.

"We can assure the public that none of our patients were involved in any way.

"At no point did the alleged individual have any contact with patients or access any secure areas of the hospital.

"The matter is now in the hands of the relevant authorities and our staff have been thanked for their diligence.”