EASTBOURNE: Two British men, caught at Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour trying to smuggle 14 illegal migrants across the Channel and into the UK using a small motor boat, have been jailed for a total of five and a half years. On November 15 2014 the Sea Paz got into difficulties just outside the entrance to Sovereign Harbour and was towed into the marina by the harbour master. Once docked, the 14 passengers on board the vessel attempted to flee but were apprehended by marina staff and police. They and the owner of the boat, Jonathan Bridgeman who had remained on board, were arrested and the investigation into the incident was passed to Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigation officers. Investigations showed the vessel had left Brighton Marina the previous day, crossed to Dieppe where it was berthed for a few hours departing at around midnight and returning to Eastbourne.
Evidence showed a second British man, Deshan Laci, was on the voyage to and from France and had fled the vessel when it arrived in Eastbourne. Subsequent investigations established that Laci operated a car wash business in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. On February 5 last year immigration enforcement officers visited the Albourne Road premises and found an Albanian man working illegally.
