Frenchman admits people smuggling

A French national has pleaded guilty to smuggling seven Vietnamese people into the UK on a light aircraft which landed at a Kent airfield without permission.

Eric Adrien Laou-Hep, 39, admitted assisting illegal entry when he appeared before Maidstone Crown Court.

Laou-Hep piloted a plane that landed at Laddingford Airfield, near Maidstone, in July. The UK Border Agency said five men, one woman and a boy were on board.

The defendant was remanded in custody to await sentencing on 2 December.

The adults on the light aircraft were taken into custody and the boy was taken into the care of social services.