Teen who piloted Channel boat with 165 migrants jailed
A 19-year-old South Sudanese man has been sentenced to over two years in prison for piloting a boat carrying 165 migrants across the English Channel. The court emphasized the danger posed by the crossing and noted that the defendant faces potential deportation.
Why it matters
This case underscores the legal consequences for individuals involved in facilitating irregular migration and the ongoing political and humanitarian challenges surrounding Channel crossings.
Image source, French lifeboat Image caption, The dinghy carried 165 migrants across the English Channel on 23 July
A teenager who piloted a dinghy carrying a then-record 165 migrants across the English Channel to the UK has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
Chan Mathok Atak, 19, from South Sudan, admitted endangering others during a sea crossing on 23 July.
Prosecutors at Canterbury Crown Court said Atak created a risk of death or serious personal injury to others on board the boat.
At the time, the so-called "mega dinghy" set a record for the largest number of migrants brought over on a small boat in recent years. That figure has since been surpassed with 230 people on board a vessel in August.
At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, Judge Sarah Counsell said the offence was so serious "only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified".
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