A ‘FIXER’ who recruited desperate ‘brides’ at the school gates for sham marriages to illegal immigrants in East Lancashire is on the run after failing to turn up at court for sentence.

Polish mother-of-four Andzelina Surmaj was given three years and eight months in jail in her absence which she will serve if or when she is arrested.

Her partner in crime, Czech national Milan Cina, 38, was jailed for five years at Burnley Crown Court.

Both acted as brokers, charging illegal immigrants thousands of pounds to arrange bogus weddings to EU nationals so they could stay in the UK.

The pair, both Roma gypsies, admitted their part in arranging six sham marriages between December 2008 and July 2009.

But it is thought they could have been involved in around 40 bogus ceremonies in all.

Surmaj, 30, targeted fellow eastern European women, desperate for money, she met at the gates of Whetley Primary School in Bradford where her children were pupils.

Passing sentence, Judge Beverley Lunt said: “It is clear from the evidence in this case, this was a well organised commercial enterprise designed to defeat the immigration laws of this country.”

Surmaj, formerly of Girlington Road, Bradford, admitted assisting unlawful immigration by organising four bogus weddings.

Unmarried Surmaj, who has been in the UK for 12 years, also admitted giving a false address at a sham wedding where she was the bride at St Peter’s Church in Newbold, Rochdale, and possessing a fake Czech Republic ID card.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Surmaj.

Cina, formerly of Lister Gardens, Bradford, admitted assisting unlawful immigration by jointly organising the four sham weddings with Surmaj and also pleaded guilty to acting as a witness at another ceremony.

Outside court, UK Border Agency investigator Kelly Rosenthal said: “I do believe we are scratching the surface with these two. I don't believe this is where their criminality ends.”