Mahmoud Alshamy, 22, was arrested last November after flashing the bogus residence permit card to bosses at a meat processing plant in Merthyr Tydfil.

He sneaked into the country four and a half years ago claiming to have fled the civil war in Syria, but that has not been verified.

The paperwork stated he had refugee status with permission to work and was valid through to March 2022.

In reality his application for asylum was refused, but uncertainty about where he comes from means the government has so far declined to deport him.

Defending, Adam Sharp told Cardiff Crown Court: ‘It is a catch-22.’

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said Alshamy applied for the position of production operative through an agency.

He added: ‘The agency was suspicious of this document. They believed it may not be genuine. The document was checked and found to be counterfeit.’

When arrested Alshamy admitted the details had been forged and said he’d got it from a friend because he couldn’t obtain a job legally.

Mr Sharp told the court he was finding the language barrier in prison difficult, having spent eight weeks in custody, but is using the time to improve his English.

Alshamy, of no fixed address, admitted using a false identity document and was jailed for six months. He must also pay a £122 victim surcharge.