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152 
KNIGHTS OF OLD— PAUL ABBOTT
Page 11
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11 Two stowaways were found in one Knights of Old vehicle in September 2000, for which the company was fined £4,000.
Paul Abbott, director of transport at the Ketteringbased firm says that, because the driver made a stop through illness which the Immigration Service deemed unnecessary, It was left with no defence.
He says: 'Tie tried to defend
and mitigate the fine, but they wouldn't hear of it; they were telling us to cough up, so we did—there didn't seem to be any choice.
"As the law has been changed with regard to the penalties, we now feel that the £4,000 should be reimbursed," he adds.
"The Immigration Service said that he shouldn't have stopped, despite being ill. They weren't interested in the driver's health. The driver left shortly afterwards—he works for Sainsbury's now and doesn't go abroad. We lost a good driver because of this.
"So were we treated
unfairly? Yes, I think so," says Abbott. "I don't believe we are guilty, given the circumstances involved, and the payment certainly isn't an admission of that. If anyone is guilty, then
it's Belgium for letting them [illegal immigrants] run around in their country. I feel very much done out of £4,000, and victimised for being honest and paying up."