Mother appears in court accused of helping smuggle Vietnamese nationals through Eurotunnel
A MOTHER-of-four has appeared in court accused of helping to smuggle 12 Vietnamese nationals through the Eurotunnel into Britain hidden in a van-load of tyres.
Katy Bethel appeared in court accused of helping smuggle Vietnamese nationals through the Eurotunnel
The illegal entrants were discovered when a UK border force official spotted a pair of jean-clad legs sticking out of a tyre stacked in the rear of the Mercedes Sprinter van.
Katy Bethel, 28, was a passenger in the works vehicle driven by Aaron Harris, the trial was told.
A court heard Harris told the officer when stopped at the UK control zone in Coquelles, France, that everything in the van belonged to him except the tyres.
The illegal entrants were discovered by a UK border force official
He added he and Bethel had been across the Channel for the first time on a day-trip.
There were 12 Vietnamese nationals concealed in that load of tyres. All were illegal entrants trying to get into the UK
The court heard she said they had been to the beach.
Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard that the illicit concealment was discovered when Harris was asked to open the rear doors.
Prosecutor Michael Morris said: “Upon opening the doors the officer saw what appeared to be jeans or jean legs within the tyres.
Katy Bethel, 28, was a passenger in the works vehicle driven by Aaron Harris, the trial was told
“He asked 'What's that then?' and Aaron Harris replied 'How did he get in?'
“There were 12 Vietnamese nationals concealed in that load of tyres. All were illegal entrants trying to get into the UK.”
Harris initially claimed the tyres belonged to his boss but the jury was told at the start of Bethel's trial that he has since pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting unlawful immigration on July 5, 2015.
Bethel, from Gillingham in Kent, denies the same charge.
Mr Morris said the prosecution case was that Bethel “knew or had reasonable cause for believing” she and Harris were carrying out a breach of immigration law.
The trial continues.