This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36921682

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Two men jailed for smuggling 18 Albanians into Britain Two men jailed for smuggling 18 Albanians into Britain
(35 minutes later)
Two men have each been jailed for more than four years for smuggling 18 Albanian migrants into the UK.Two men have each been jailed for more than four years for smuggling 18 Albanian migrants into the UK.
They were caught as the group, including two children, were rescued from their sinking inflatable boat a mile-and-a-half off Kent in May.They were caught as the group, including two children, were rescued from their sinking inflatable boat a mile-and-a-half off Kent in May.
Immigration officials said the Albanians were in a "perilous" state without life jackets and facing potential death.Immigration officials said the Albanians were in a "perilous" state without life jackets and facing potential death.
Each of the migrants had paid £5,000 to make the trip Each of the migrants had paid £5,000 to make the trip.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Robert Stilwell, 33, a former judo champion from Greenhithe, Kent, was jailed for four years and four months.At Maidstone Crown Court, Robert Stilwell, 33, a former judo champion from Greenhithe, Kent, was jailed for four years and four months.
Mark Stribling, 35, from Farningham, Kent, was jailed for four years and eight months.Mark Stribling, 35, from Farningham, Kent, was jailed for four years and eight months.
Both had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration into the UK.Both had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration into the UK.
'Commodities''Commodities'
The court was told they were hired by others and were each paid £2,000 to make the trip.The court was told they were hired by others and were each paid £2,000 to make the trip.
The judge said a tragedy had been avoided by a whisker.The judge said a tragedy had been avoided by a whisker.
They initially told the authorities they had been fishing and had rescued the migrants.They initially told the authorities they had been fishing and had rescued the migrants.
Dave Fairclough, who led the immigration enforcement investigation, said: "This was a particularly callous attempt to smuggle people into the UK.Dave Fairclough, who led the immigration enforcement investigation, said: "This was a particularly callous attempt to smuggle people into the UK.
"We often talk about people smugglers treating individuals as commodities. To my mind, that is exactly how Stilwell and Stribling regarded their passengers."We often talk about people smugglers treating individuals as commodities. To my mind, that is exactly how Stilwell and Stribling regarded their passengers.
"They were not human beings, they were cargo, and as such did not merit life jackets for a dangerous night crossing, in poor conditions in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.""They were not human beings, they were cargo, and as such did not merit life jackets for a dangerous night crossing, in poor conditions in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world."