A MURDER suspect stopped after his yacht was found with 17 illegal immigrants on board has appeared in court.
Stephen Andrew Jackson, 50, of no fixed address, appeared at Crawley Magistrates Court (Wednesday 25 May) charged with facilitating illegal entry into the UK. He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on June 24. The extradition matter in relation to the European Arrest Warrant from the Spanish authorities will be dealt with following the conclusion of legal proceedings in relation to the facilitation charge.
Nine of the 17 Albanian men found on the yacht in Chichester Marina on Monday night appeared at the same court charged with attempted illegal entry into the UK. All nine pleaded guilty. Eight were sentenced to 8 weeks in prison and one was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison. They will all be removed from the UK at the end of their sentences.
The remaining eight Albanian men remain detained pending their removal from the UK.
The catamaran has been seized and a court application has been made for its forfeiture. The application will be heard at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
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