Dinghy Pilot Jailed for Ignoring Rules While Crossing Channel to UK
A dinghy pilot has been sentenced for illegally steering a boat full of passengers across the Channel to the UK
Teesside, UK, Dinghy, Asylum, Daniel Malual
Teesside: A 24-year-old man named Daniel Malual has been sentenced for piloting a dinghy packed with people across the Channel to the UK. He was caught by Border Force on September 21 last year.
After being spotted, he tried to blend in by changing his clothes and mingling with others. Malual claimed he changed because his clothes were wet, but it seemed like he was trying to avoid getting caught.
He appeared in court after pleading guilty to entering the UK without proper clearance. The court learned that he had applied for asylum after arriving.
Malual, who left Sudan in 2020, traveled through Italy, Libya, and France before reaching the UK. He said he felt uncomfortable in those countries and wanted a better life for his family.
His lawyer mentioned that he knew he didn’t have permission to enter the UK and had a phone interview scheduled with the Home Office, which got canceled because he was in custody.
Judge Jonathan Carroll pointed out that Malual was aware of the rules and still chose to break them. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with half of that time to be served before he can be released on license.