Jailed for smuggling immigrants
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• Lorry driver Phillip Arlott, who attempted to smuggle 24 illegal immigrants into the UK through the Channel Tunnel, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Re would have been given a longer sentence if it were not for the "substantial, valuable help" he gave to Customs officials following his arrest. Arlott, from Littleaver, Derby, had denied facilitating illegal entry. Maidstone Crown Court heard that he was stopped at the French end of the tunnel on 4 July last year. The 24 Asians were hiding among car parts in the 40tt trailer. Arlott initially claimed he did not know the immigrants were in the trailer. But he later said he had been approached by two Asians in Germany and offered 28,000 to carry the men, and was later threatened by a German brandishing a gun. Arlott told the jury he feared for the safety of his family if he did not do as he was told. But Judge David Croft QC told him: "You are a family man and your family will suffer. You were a driver but not a mere driver. You gave them details about your availability and assisted in the operation. It was not committed off the cul-f—it was a planned effort."