Two more small boat pilots jailed for Channel crossings
Two men have been sentenced to prison for piloting overcrowded small boats across the English Channel. These convictions are part of a government crackdown on criminal smuggling gangs operating dangerous migrant crossings.
Why it matters
The case highlights the UK government's ongoing efforts to deter illegal migration and prosecute those responsible for endangering lives during Channel crossings.
Image source, Crown Prosecution Service Image caption, Omar Heidari, 34, and Manas Yuk, 18, were sentenced on Friday
Two men who piloted overcrowded small boats have been jailed for endangering others while crossing the Channel.
Omar Heidari, a 34-year-old Afghan national who steered a dinghy carrying 95 people to the UK in June, has been jailed for two years.
Manas Yuk, an 18-year-old Sudanese national, was sentenced to 18 months in youth detention after piloting a boat carrying 81 people - including a number of children - just days prior.
The men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday having earlier pleaded guilty to endangerment.
It means 10 people have now been sentenced under a law targeting those who risk the safety of others by piloting small boats since it came into force in January.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in