In 1999 another son, Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, was jailed for plotting to blow up British tourists in Yemen when he was just 17.

Officers arrested Ibn-Sheikh in December 2019 and found him in possession of 12 iPhones, 10 bank cards in different names and 14 identity documents.

Kelly Brocklehurst, prosecuting, said once the defendant had obtained an identity document, he would set about creating a “legend” around it using council and utility bills, National Insurance cards and UK driving licences.

The iPhones were used to ensure the false identities each had differing and unique contact details, he said.

“Using those phones together with supporting documents provided the sort of rounded profile which allowed him to open their bank accounts fraudulently,” he added.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of conspiracy to launder money, possessing articles for use in fraud, possession of 14 identity documents with fraudulent intent and possession of more than £12,000 in criminal cash.

Father’s notoriety caused ‘substantial difficulty’

Judge Andrew Goymer said: “This defendant in my judgment played a leading role, not necessarily the leading role.

“He is not right at the peak, but he is not far below that because he used considerable skill, ingenuity and industry towards this fraudulent and dishonest scheme.”

Ibn-Sheikh’s barrister, Bill Evans, told the court of the efforts his client had made to escape the long shadow cast by his father.

He said: “His father has a degree of notoriety, which has caused him substantial difficulty and he and other members of his family have changed their names as a result.”

Ibn-Sheikh’s role in the conspiracy was to set up accounts through which people could put substantial amounts of money, which were then paid out to foreign jurisdictions, the court heard.

Mr Evans continued: “Mr Ibn-Sheikh was not the ultimate beneficiary of those sums.

“If one looks at his record and previous convictions, it is apparent he has now spent the vast majority of the past 12 or 13 years or so in custody.

“The extent to which he is able to manage outside and make use of his talents in a legitimate way will of course be directly impacted by the amount of time he now spends in custody.”