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| Man jailed for attempting to smuggle 17 illegal immigrants into UK | Man jailed for attempting to smuggle 17 illegal immigrants into UK |
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| A man has been jailed for nearly five years for attempting to smuggle 17 illegal immigrants into the UK. | A man has been jailed for nearly five years for attempting to smuggle 17 illegal immigrants into the UK. |
| Stephen Jackson pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court on Friday to attempting to smuggling the migrants at Chicester Marina. | Stephen Jackson pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court on Friday to attempting to smuggling the migrants at Chicester Marina. |
| The 51-year-old sailor was sentenced to four year and nine months for assisting unlawful immigration after he was caught "red-handed" sailing a boat-load of Albanian men aged 20-44 into the marina on 23 May. | |
| During the hearing it also emerged a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Jackson in connection with the disappearance of a Scottish woman in Spain. | During the hearing it also emerged a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Jackson in connection with the disappearance of a Scottish woman in Spain. |
| Lisa Brown, 32, originally from Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire was last seen in November last year. | |
| He is due to make an initial court appearance in regards to his possible extradition at Westminster Magistrates Court on 11 August. | |
| Sentencing Jackson, Judge Guy Anthony said Jackson had been caught "red-handed" and "there are not many cases where somebody is involved in bringing that many people in one go". | Sentencing Jackson, Judge Guy Anthony said Jackson had been caught "red-handed" and "there are not many cases where somebody is involved in bringing that many people in one go". |
| He said the Albanian men were traveling in cramped conditions: "Quite apart from the illegality, they are plainly at risk of their health and safety". | |
| Prosecutor Martha Walsh said the 10-metre long boat he used to smuggle the men in was only suitable for between six and eight passengers. | |
| She said: "On May 23 this year, a boat called Fortunella, which was a catamaran, was seen off the Isle of Wight and it was making its way to Chichester harbour. | |
| "It was initially stopped, however the marine patrol communicated with the vessel and asked the captain to identify himself, and he gave the name Stephen Jackson. | |
| "They ran a check through the police national computer and it said he was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant. | |
| "He was allowed to carry on into Chichester harbour where there are no border controls." | |
| Sussex Police were waiting for Jackson's catamaran when it arrive in the marina and found the 17 men after searching the boat. | |
| Ms Walsh also said there were insufficient life jackets on board despite the operation involving a "significant degree of planning" by Jackson. | |
| "This was a voyage in which those 17 men had their lives in some degree of jeopardy," she added. | |
| None of the men had the right to be in the country and eight were immediately deported. | |
| The other nine, who had previously attempted to enter the UK illegally, all received jail terms after pleading guilty at Crawley Magistrates' Court to unlawful entry. | |
| One of them had a previous conviction for a sexual offence. | |
| The court heard Jackson, of West Wittering in West Sussex, had originally claimed to have been forced into sailing to the UK by the Albanians after he found them onboard. | |
| He later admitted he had been given the boat in exchange for getting them to the country. | |
| In mitigation, Jackson's defence counsel Gregory Fishwick said his client made an immediate confession and described him as a man of "positive good character". | |
| He said: "Mr Jackson appears to be a hard-working, conscientious, honest, trustworthy man who is held in high regard by those who have known him." | |
| The lawyer said Jackson acknowledged he had made a "terrible mistake" and had embarrassed those who knew him. | |
| Mr Fishwick said the details of the European Arrest Warrant were "somewhat sketchy". | |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |