Jail term cut for people-smuggler

A jail sentence imposed on a man who helped an illegal immigrant, has been cut by the Appeal Court.

Charan Singh, 49, from Hamilton, Leicester, picked up the Punjabi man, who had been smuggled from India, in Church Stretton, Shropshire.

Singh was jailed for 15 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court for aiding a breach of immigration law.

The sentence was cut to nine months after the court heard he acted out of a sense of "misguided loyalty".

Wider conspiracy

Although not involved in smuggling the man, a family friend, past customs, Singh had agreed to give him a ride once he got to England, after his journey via France.

Singh was arrested, while driving the man towards Leicester, after being tracked by police.

Detectives were investigating a much larger conspiracy to import illegal immigrants, in which Singh was not involved, the court was told.

Sir Douglas Brown allowed the appeal, saying Singh had been of excellent character previously, and had not committed the offence for money.

He said: "After some hesitation we have come to the conclusion that a somewhat lesser sentence could have been passed by the judge.

"In our view the appropriate sentence would have been nine months imprisonment."