Andrew Stainton and Denice Blendell have been incarcerated following an unsuccessful attempt to illicitly transport five Vietnamese nationals into the UK. The duo’s van was intercepted at the Eurotunnel terminal based in Coquelles, France, uncovering the hidden individuals amongst old bedding, apparel, and hefty motorbike components.
Stainton, a 48-year-old from Scunthorpe, was handed a jail term of three years and nine months. Simultaneously, Blendell, aged 62, got sentenced to serve a jail term of one year and eight months at Hull Crown Court. Further inquiry into the matter unearthed their involvement with a syndicate of organised crime, with promises of a financial reward around £2,000 each for their role. Past transactions implied similar endeavours had already yielded £14,000 in cash from journeys to France and Belgium.
Dame Angela Eagle, the minister responsible for border security, lamented the reprehensible actions of the convicted, laying emphasis on the exploitative nature of this offence. Jason Jowett, a representative from the Home Office, underscored the perilous conditions faced by the migrants due to this crime. He stressed that the offenders held monetary gain in higher regard than the wellbeing of the immigrants they were transporting, further spotlighting their transgressions.
This article draws on original coverage provided by the BBC.
