A WOULD-BE people smuggler from Carlisle who was implicated in a failed bid to illegally bring eight Albanian men into the UK has been jailed.

Despite strong evidence that linked him to the "sophisticated" plot four years ago, Neil Anthony Sowerby, 57, denied any wrongdoing. He was convicted after a trial of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law.

The plot was first uncovered in August 2020. Carlisle man Francis Pattinson, 30, has already been jailed for his part in it

At the city’s crown court, prosecutor Christopher Rose provided a summary of Sowerby’s offending – his first ever prosecution.

He said the evidence showed that Sowerby was involved in two trips to Europe via the Eurotunnel, the first being a reconnaissance or “dummy run” for the smuggling operation.

It was as Sowerby and his associates were returning to the UK from Gent in Belgium after the second trip that the eight Albanian men were discovered hidden in the back of two pickup trucks.

They were discovered on the French side of the Eurotunnel.

“Mr Sowerby was present for the two trips, and he was very close to at least one of the two pickup trucks,” said Mr Rose.

“There must have been a commercial motivation.” The barrister said the conspiracy was “fairly sophisticated” and involved much organisation, including making travel arrangements and booking hotels.

Two women were also recruited as drivers.

Sowerby, of Petteril Street, Carlisle, was clearly closely linked to the criminal who was at the centre of the conspiracy and his role was 'significant', the court heard.

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Ged Doran, defending, told the court that the defendant had been struggling since being held in custody to get treatment for his various medical conditions.

He has previously suffered a heart attack.

He suffers from a chronic heart condition. “Mr Sowerby has had difficulty managing his condition whilst in custody,” said the barrister. “He is 57 and a man of previous good character.”

The barrister referred to positive character references for Sowerby.

Mr Doran also spoke of the defendant’s naivete during the offending, when unlike others he had used his real name as he made bookings and carried out other related financial transactions.

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Judge Nicholas Barker noted the “degree of sophistication” that was a feature of the conspiracy. “It’s clear to me, on the face of the evidence, that you were closely involved in this,” said the judge.

“Phone calls were being made immediately after you were on the English side of the Eurotunnel when it was apparent that the [pickup] vehicle had been stopped.” The choreography of those phone calls showed Sowerby’s involvement, remarked the judge.

While Francis Pattinson was clearly the “prime mover” in the conspiracy, Sowerby had played a significant role in the operation to smuggle the Albanians into the UK, concluded Judge Barker.

The judge noted the long delay in the case reaching court, and the defendant’s health conditions but Sowerby had been motivated by the prospect of “significant commercial gain.”

Judge Barker jailed Sowerby for 40 months.