UK jails teen asylum seeker for steering overcrowded Channel migrant boat

The vessel lacked information cogwheel and took connected h2o earlier interception by UK Border Force, authorities say.

A 19-year-old asylum seeker has been jailed successful the UK for steering an overcrowded dinghy crossed the English Channel, successful the latest prosecution nether a caller instrumentality targeting those who aviator boats utilized to smuggle migrants into Britain.

Chan Mathok Atak, from South Sudan, was sentenced astatine Canterbury Crown Court successful southeast England connected Friday to 2 years and 3 months, aft admitting a complaint of endangering others during the crossing from France.

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The law, introduced successful January this year, is aimed astatine those who steer boats that enactment passengers’ lives astatine risk, though chiseled from older charges specified arsenic assisting unlawful immigration.

Prosecutors said Atak, believed to person been 1 of 2 radical who took turns piloting the boat, steered the astir 14-metre (46ft) dinghy, astir the magnitude of a bus, for astatine slightest 90 minutes connected July 23 with 165 radical connected board, including 31 children aged betwixt 14 and 17.

At the time, it was the largest fig recorded connected a azygous tiny vessel crossing the Channel – earlier a vessel carrying 230 radical surpassed the grounds successful August.

Migrants are seen connected committee a boat, which was operated by Chan Mathok Atak, during the crossing of the English Channel connected July 23, 2026 [Handout/National Crime Agency via Reuters]

The tribunal heard the vessel had lone 1 moving motor and nary navigation oregon first-aid equipment, and was deflating and dilatory taking connected h2o earlier it was intercepted by Border Force.

Although nary grounds was presented that Atak organised the crossing, Judge Sarah Counsell said the offence was superior capable that “only an contiguous custodial condemnation tin beryllium justified”, informing that helium could inactive look automatic deportation erstwhile his condemnation ends.

Atak’s lawyer, Audrey Mogan, said determination was “not a azygous shred of evidence” linking him to the boat’s overcrowding oregon its deficiency of information equipment, saying her lawsuit was a young asylum seeker who had fled unit successful South Sudan.

The sentencing has been seen arsenic portion of the British government’s wider crackdown connected migration and Channel crossings.

The archetypal convictions nether the caller instrumentality took spot successful June, erstwhile an Afghan and a Sudanese nationalist were each jailed for astatine slightest 2 years for akin offences, arsenic the UK looks for ways to deter the tens of thousands who effort the crossing each year.

Home Office Minister Anna Turley said successful July that “if you hazard the lives of others by bringing amerciable migrants to British shores connected unsafe tiny boats, you volition look justice”.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs successful February that the level of crossings was “unacceptable”, saying tackling it would instrumentality “long-term, careful, achy work”.

Hundreds of protesters gathered implicit 2 days connected England’s southbound seashore earlier this month, blocking streets successful effect to tiny migrant vessel arrivals, adjacent arsenic authorities figures amusement the fig of those crossing into the state since January has fallen compared with 2025.