Mark Stribling and Robert Stilwell were sentenced to a total
of nine years for attempting to smuggle 18 migrants into the UK. Credit: Home
Office
Two men who tried to smuggle 18 Albanian immigrants across
the English Channel into the UK have been jailed for a total of nine years.
Mark Stribling, 35, and Robert Stilwell, 33, admitted
breaching immigration law by illegally attempting to help 18 migrants enter the
country on a boat from France.
Sentencing the men, Judge Jeremy Carey, said "a tragedy
was averted by a whisker."
Stiblig and Stilwell, both from Kent, were caught after
their boat broke down and they had to be rescued in the English Channel.
Stilwell, a former European and Commonwealth judo champion,
and Stribling were to be paid £2,000 each to make the journey to the south of
Calais and transport the migrants to the UK, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
The boat carrying 18 Albanians broke down in the English
Channel. Credit: Home Office
The 15 men, one woman and two children, who had paid £6,000
each for the crossing, had waded into the water before climbing on board the
white rigid inflatable boat (rib) on the evening May 28 this year.
They had to be rescued by the Coastguard and the crew of HMC
Valiant after the boat lost power one and a half miles (2.4km) from shore.
Stribling, was jailed for four years and eight months and
Stilwell was sentenced to four years and four months in prison.
Stilwell appeared stunned by the sentence and mouthed
"Tell them I love them" as he was sent down, while Stribling smirked.
In sentencing, Judge Jeremy Carey said: "This case
shows the best and the worst of human characteristics.
"On the part of the rescue services, a real and
conspicuous devotion to duty and at considerable risk to themselves.
"On your part, greed, recklessness and deceit and the
desire to get easy money.
"In the event, there was a rescue and those who were
rescued should be very grateful, as you should be to those who came to your
aid.
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