Jailed landlord Nicholas Hoogstraten wants to house asylum-seekers in a redundant Second World War aircraft carrier.
There are reports that Hoogstraten is backing the bizarre bid to buy the former Royal Navy carrier and moor it off the Kent coast, near Margate.
Up to 1,000 asylum seekers would be housed on the ancient 13,400-ton warship, with the owners charging the Government £75 a head per week.
Project advisors Paul Martin and Co wrote to the Home Office saying it wanted to staff the vessel with 300 category D prisoners on work placement.
Hoogstraten is appealing against being convicted for manslaughter last year for his part in the killing of rival landlord Mohammed Raja.
The former HMS Vengeance is the last surviving British aircraft carrier from the Second World War.
It ended its working life as the flagship of the Brazilian Navy, carrying the name Minas Gerais.
Vengeance has been laid up in Rio de Janeiro since being retired from service.
The ship was bought by a British entrepreneur in 2001 and campaigners are attempting to bring Vengeance home as a floating museum.
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