Man denies smuggling migrants to UK on yacht

A 54-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to smuggling 12 migrants into the UK illegally on board a yacht.

Robbie Hounsham, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, appeared at Newport Crown Court where he denied the charge of conspiracy to facilitate the unlawful entry and/or attempted entry into the UK of non-eu citizens between Jan 1 2020 and June 30 2020.

The charge related to 12 people “suspected of being migrants entering the UK illegally” being found aboard the yacht at East Cowes Marina on March 19 2020, the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit said. The judge adjourned the trial until Aug 14, and released Mr Hounsham on bail.