Teen who piloted Channel boat with 165 migrants jailed

At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, Judge Sarah Counsell declared that the offence warranted only a custodial sentence, stating, "only an contiguous custodial condemnation tin beryllium justified." She warned the defendant, Atak, that as an overseas national he would face automatic deportation upon completion of his sentence. Prosecutor James Harrison described the vessel Atak was steering as 12.8 feet (3.9 metres) wide and 46.9 feet (14.3 metres) long, comparable in size to a modular bus. The craft had crossed from Calais to the United Kingdom and was deflating when intercepted by border‑agency vessels. The dinghy carried 31 children, the youngest aged 14, and was equipped with two outboard engines, only one of which was operational. Harrison noted that shortly before interception, Atak moved away from the engine compartment, removed his jacket, and attempted to conceal his role as helmsman. Nevertheless, aerial footage spanning 90 minutes showed Atak piloting the boat using its sole functioning engine, the court heard.