Deportation for man who tried to smuggle in 4 Iraqis in his Mercedes

A DERBYSHIRE man was caught trying to smuggle four illegal immigrants into the UK in his car.

Border Force officials found two adults and a five-year child in the boot of Valentine Balog’s Mercedes.

A 12-year-old child was hidden under a coat in the rear footwell behind the driver’s seat during the search.

The immigrants, all Iraqi, had paid people traffickers to bring them to the UK, Derby Crown Court heard.

Jailing the 29-year-old, of Normanton, for 17 months, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “A long time ago you were trying to bring four illegal immigrants into the country.

“I accept this is an isolated offence, it was restricted to one trip and you have no similar previous convictions. That is in the positive column. “In the negative column there was commercial motivation, there were four individuals and it was well organised, but I accept you were not the organiser.”

Esther Harrison, prosecuting, said Border Force officials stopped Balog’s car at the entry to the

Channel Tunnel at Coquelles, near Calais, just before midnight on February 26, 2017. She said the defendant was driving and in the passenger seat was his girlfriend, who was last year jailed for 32 weeks for her part in the offence.

Miss Harrison said the four illegal immigrants were discovered hiding in the Mercedes and the couple were arrested. She said: “In his interview he denied the offence. He said he could not believe it when the boot of the car was opened and there were people inside.

“He said he had booked a spur-ofthe-moment trip to France with his girlfriend to have a good time.

“He said he did not know how a 12-year-old child ended up in the back of his car.”

Miss Harrison said analysis of mobile phones seized from Balog, of Woolrych Street, Derby, showed evidence of contact and arranging of the offence in the Derby, Heathrow and Cardiff areas.

Balog, who appeared over video link from Nottingham Prison for his sentencing, had previously pleaded guilty to facilitating the illegal movement of non-eu nationals into the UK.

After entering his plea he fled back to his home country of Slovakia. However, once there he was jailed for counterfeit money charges and then, on release, he was extradited back to the UK to face the immigration charges he had previously admitted.

The hearing was told after Balog is released from prison he will automatically be deported back to Slovakia.