Newhaven: Man appears in court after migrants found in lorry

The incident sparked a major emergency services response

A man charged with assisting unlawful entry to the UK following an incident in East Sussex has appeared in court.

Anas Al Mustafa, of Heather Crescent, Swansea, was charged after migrants were found in a lorry aboard a ferry at Newhaven ferry port on Friday.

Six people were taken to hospital after the incident, which sparked a major emergency response.

Mr Al Mustafa was remanded into custody and will appear at Lewes Crown Court for a plea hearing on 18 March.

The 42-year-old handyman, aided by an Arabic interpreter, spoke to confirm his name and date of birth at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The court heard that while on the ferry, seven Vietnamese nationals concealed in a van escaped by breaking through a wall.

Four of the migrants were still in hospital and one was in a critical condition, the prosecution said.

On Friday, police said two men had been arrested in connection with the incident, one on suspicion of people smuggling and the other on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.

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