A PEOPLE smuggler whose plan to sail a boat of eight Albanians to the UK failed when they had to be towed into Eastbourne has been jailed.

Afrim Xhekaliu, 41, was arrested at Sovereign Harbour after he had made an emergency call in the early hours of January 31.

The rigid-hulled inflatable he was sailing had got lost in freezing conditions after setting off from France.

He was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday of facilitating illegal immigration and sentenced to six years.

Albanian Xhekaliu, of Barnet, north London, himself an illegal immigrant, flew from Gatwick Airport to Albania’s capital Tirana just days before and set up the smuggling attempt.

In a text message found on his phone, he asks a contact: “We have the trip set for Saturday.

“I am in Albania.

“Would you have anyone wanting to come over there?”

His contact replied: “Yes mate.

“I will get them ready on Friday and let you know, hope many people.”

Lifeboat crews searched for more than four hours for the boat named Janhazel.

It was found in the Dover Strait with nine people on board - eight men and one woman - and towed to Eastbourne.

Xhekaliu was found standing by the controls.

He was one of just two people wearing life jackets and the only person wearing a wetsuit.

The NCA said he was “clearly prepared” for the trip as he brought dry clothes in a waterproof bag - while the others on board were soaked and hypothermic.

He also had £410 in cash and foreign currency valued at around £512.

The group was arrested by border force officers while the NCA investigated.

Xhekaliu answered no comment in interview but investigators established he had lived in London for a few years but not long enough to claim asylum.

His home was searched and a Greek ID card in his name was found.

On his phone he had images of adverts selling boats like the one he was found in.

Martin Grace, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “Afrim Xhekaliu was clearly an important part of an organised crime group smuggling people into the UK.

“He was ill-prepared to transport people across the Channel in the depths of winter and very dangerous conditions.

“His lack of maritime skill and experience placed the lives of those aboard in danger.

“The National Crime Agency will keep pursuing criminals facilitating illegal immigration, take action to disrupt their activity and protect those vulnerable to exploitation.”

In October 2016, two people smugglers were jailed after they ran out of fuel outside a harbour with 14 Albanian illegal immigrants on board.

Jonathan Bridgeman and Deshan Laci stood to earn £10,000 each for taking the group of strangers, including a 14-year-old boy, from Dieppe to Eastbourne.

But they failed to realise how much fuel would be needed for the journey with such a big weight, and the boat had to be towed into the harbour, where Laci ran off and the others were arrested.

Bridgeman, 42, of Toll Gate, Burgess Hill, and Laci, 35, of Croydon, were jailed for 30 and 36 months respectively.