'Snakeheads' jailed for people smuggling

Zhang was known as 'E Ba Di' - or local young tyrant

Two members of a Chinese gang have been jailed for their part in a lucrative people smuggling ring.

Zhang Yong Hui would find Chinese immigrants work in Soho in London's West End then take their wages to pay back a "Snakehead" gang in China which helped smuggle them into the UK.

It is thought Zhang had helped bring in up to 720 political asylum seekers since he arrived in Britain three years ago.

He was only caught after beating up one of the asylum seekers, En Kai Li, who went to the police.

Zhang was convicted at the Old Bailey on Thursday of conspiracy to assist illegal entry, false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm.

He was jailed for seven years and will be deported once he has served his sentence.

The beating continued until it was interrupted temporarily for him to speak to his mother on the phone Prosecutor Brian O'Neill

One of his "foot soldiers", Zhou Yu Xin, 30, was jailed for four years following his conviction for blackmail and false imprisonment.

The court heard Zhang worked for his girlfriend Su Mai, now on the run, who would send the immigrants' money back to China.

When Mr Li arrived in Britain after a four-month journey across Asia and Africa, he was ordered to phone his parents in China and tell them to pay the gang £15,000.

His mother handed the money over to gang members but would not leave the premises without hearing from her son.

Prosecutor Brian O'Neill told the jury Zhang then beat Mr Li with a knuckle duster and baseball bat. Police said he was held for 24 hours against his will.

'Strong message'

"The beating continued until it was interrupted temporarily for him to speak to his mother on the phone and assure her he had not been beaten and that she was to go home," said Mr O'Neill.

The attack continued until Mr Li was released in London's Chinatown.

When Zhang was arrested, an envelope containing 20 Chinese names was found near him - 16 were later found to be illegal immigrants claiming political asylum.

The case had been investigated by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Kidnap and Special Investigation Unit.

Detective Inspector John Kielty, from the unit, said they had "invaluable assistance" from Chinese authorities, the British Embassy in Beijing and the UK Immigration Service.

He added: "These convictions send a strong message that the Met's kidnap unit will investigate crimes in the many diverse communities of London and will bring those responsible to court."