Stowaway fines finish firm
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by Dominic Perry A Kent owner-driver has been left homeless and jobless after immigration officials found stowaways in his trailer, seized his truck and then refused him the right to appeal.
Brian Kent has been living in the back of a Ford Escort van in a pub car park and existing on £50-a-fortnight dole money since he discovered the stowaways more than a month ago.
At the same time, says Kent. the illegal immigrants have been fed, housed and clothed at the taxpayers' expense.
Kent was living in the cab of his truck following a recent divorce—now he says he has no home and no way of earning a living unless he pays the Immigration Service their money.
He adds: "In certain ways I feel a bit numb and in others I just think its ridiculous; I can't believe it's happening.
When you go to the state for help you just get shafted by the system, whilst they [the stowaways] get all the benefits."
Kent discovered seven stowaways hidden inside his trailer on 29 October on returning to his truck after the CalaisDover ferry crossing. The vehicle had been passed as clean by Calais Chamber of Commerce's CO2 test.
Nonetheless, immigration officials demanded a £14,000 penalty and seized his artic. Now they have refused him the right to appeal, claiming that he did not have an adequate regime of checks in place.
However, Kent says that he inspected the vehicle along with other drivers at Calais in addition to the CO, check and noted the whole regime down.
Now he has raised the matter with his MP and says that he will take it to Europe if he has to.
A Home Office spokesman says he cannot comment on individual cases.