A 35-year-old man who fled political violence in India and lived "under the radar" for 13 years in Worcestershire has been jailed after giving himself up to police.

Harjeet Kumar was supported by his father who lived in a caravan and worked on farms in the Evesham area, Worcester Crown Court heard. Kumar didn't claim benefits, open a bank account or register for gas or electric so his existence remained unknown and on three occasions when he was arrested he gave a false name, the court was told.

But when his father went back to India on holiday and died while he was there, Kumar had no means of supporting himself and decided to surrender at Worcester police station, Michael Conry, prosecuting, said.

Kumar, of Badsey Fields Nursery, Badsey Fields Lane, Badsey, Evesham, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice between May 17 2009, when he first gave false details when police interviewed him in relation to immigration issues. He used the same false details when he was given a caution for a public order offence in 2010, and again when he was picked up for driving without a licence or insurance last year.

On January 9, this year he contacted solicitors and gave himself up, Mr Conry said. He has since applied for asylum.

"He admitted lying to the police and the courts because he was scared and wanted to avoid being sent back to India," Mr Conry said.

Kumar, he said, had voted for a political party in local elections and feared violence after the opposition party gained power.

Martin Butterworth, defending, said Kumar was a shy man who had been supported entirely by his father and lived with him in a caravan since his arrival in 2004.

"Living as he has for 13 years under the radar, he has made for himself a very sad life," Mr Butterworth said.

He had a few friends among the travellers who worked on farms but when his father died he recognised that he would "have to step out into the light," Mr Butterworth said.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said Kumar had been in the country for many years since first falsely giving another man's details but had finally voluntarily put himself before the courts.

He was jailed for eight months with no separate penalty for the driving offences.