'Cynical and reckless' people smuggler is jailed

Eduard Mucaj was jailed for 32 months at Ipswich Crown Court

A "cynical and reckless" people smuggler who crossed the North Sea in a small yacht with twelve Albanian migrants on board, including an eight-year-old boy, has been jailed.

Eduard Mucaj, 50 and from Albania, was detained by Border Force officials after sailing "erratically" from the Netherlands to Lowestoft, Suffolk, last August.

The Home Office said the yacht had a faulty engine, no safety equipment and was more than three times its capacity.

Mucaj was jailed for 32 months at Ipswich Crown Court.

Two of the migrants had previously been deported from the UK for committing serious offences.

Steve Desmond, a Home Office immigration officer, said the men had since been deported again.

"I think everyone would regard this crime as despicable," he said.

"Clearly all of those people on board were in danger of losing their lives and it so easily could have happened."

The yacht named Miramar was escorted to Lowestoft

The 12 migrants were found below deck in cramped conditions

The Home Office said Mucaj had set sail from Den Oever in the Netherlands in the early hours of 9 August.

The Dutch coastguard tracked his yacht which was being sailed "erratically".

Officials tried to make contact with Mucaj and, when he failed to respond to their calls, the Home Office was alerted.

Border Force intercepted the yacht two days later when it entered UK waters.

The Home Office said Mucaj was "seen at the helm wearing a life jacket, waterproofs and boots", while the migrants were found below deck in cramped conditions, suffering from sea sickness and with no safety equipment.

Ten of the Albanians have since applied for asylum, the Home Office said.

Steve Desmond believes Mucaj was part of an organised crime group

"I think I'd be naive if I suggested that we capture every boat that crosses the North Sea," Mr Desmond added.

"But I'm sure it's just one of the avenues that these criminal gangs seek to pursue, especially as the activity on the south coast [of England] is intense and may push them up to East Anglia."