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Sudanese Channel Tunnel walker admits obstruction charge Sudanese Channel Tunnel walker admits obstruction charge
(35 minutes later)
A Sudanese man found walking through the Channel Tunnel to Britain from France has pleaded guilty to an obstruction charge.A Sudanese man found walking through the Channel Tunnel to Britain from France has pleaded guilty to an obstruction charge.
Abdul Rahman Haroun, 40, who was found inside the tunnel last August, appeared before Canterbury Crown Court.Abdul Rahman Haroun, 40, who was found inside the tunnel last August, appeared before Canterbury Crown Court.
He was granted asylum in the UK after he was apprehended while walking near the end of the 31-mile (50km) tunnel.He was granted asylum in the UK after he was apprehended while walking near the end of the 31-mile (50km) tunnel.
Haroun was sentenced to nine months but walked free from court because of time already served.Haroun was sentenced to nine months but walked free from court because of time already served.
He changed his plea to guilty before his trial got under way.He changed his plea to guilty before his trial got under way.
During the hearing, the court heard Haroun's description of his walk through the tunnel.
'Persecuted by militia''Persecuted by militia'
He described the speed of the trains passing through and said: "When I saw the trains coming I had to hold on to metal pieces on the wall of the tunnel." During the hearing, the court heard Haroun's description of the speed of the trains passing through. He said: "When I saw the trains coming I had to hold on to metal pieces on the wall of the tunnel."
Haroun's journey saw him travel for a month to Egypt and on to Libya before he crossed the Mediterranean to Italy. From there he made his way to Calais.Haroun's journey saw him travel for a month to Egypt and on to Libya before he crossed the Mediterranean to Italy. From there he made his way to Calais.
In an interview with the Home Office, Haroun described how he fled his home in 2004 after he was persecuted by the Janjaweed militia. In an interview with the Home Office, Haroun described how he fled his home in 2004 after he was persecuted by the Janjaweed militia. He ended up in a camp at the Kari-Yari dam on the Sudan-Chad border.
He ended up in a camp at the Kari-Yari dam on the Sudan-Chad border.
After his arrest, he told police: "I came here for protection and to be safe."After his arrest, he told police: "I came here for protection and to be safe."
Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told the court that when Haroun was asked how he got into the tunnel, he said: "I came from France, always trying to get here." Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said when Haroun was asked how he got into the tunnel he said he jumped over the perimeter fence.
He said he jumped over the perimeter fence by himself before "walking sometimes on the right and sometimes on the left" inside the tunnel, Mr Bennetts said. Once inside he began "walking sometimes on the right and sometimes on the left", the court was told.
Haroun had pleaded not guilty to "obstructing an engine or a carriage using a railway" before Medway magistrates last August. Judge Adele Williams acknowledged Haroun had been "in a state of desperation".
But she said: "The reason why the courts of the United Kingdom take such a serious view of this criminality is that those who enter in this way seek to evade the authorities, who can, therefore, have no check upon who is entering the country."
"Disrupting the operation of the Channel Tunnel in this way is a very serious offence which will almost always result in an immediate sentence of imprisonment."
In August Haroun pleaded not guilty to "obstructing an engine or a carriage using a railway" when he appeared before Medway magistrates.
On Christmas Eve, the Home Office recognised him as a refugee and granted him asylum.On Christmas Eve, the Home Office recognised him as a refugee and granted him asylum.