Man accused of piloting dinghy across Channel denies immigration offences
An Eritrean man accused of piloting a dinghy across the English Channel illegally has pleaded not guilty to two immigration offences.
Idris Abdu, who is now living in Bradford, is accused of assisting unlawful immigration with a small boat crossing on May 13 last year.
The charge alleges he piloted a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) which facilitated a breach of immigration law.
Abdu is also accused of arriving in the UK on the same date without valid entry clearance.
He denied both offences at Bradford Crown Court on Monday.
Abdu, who followed proceedings with the help of a Tigrinya interpreter, is not due to go on trial until August 29 2028, and was granted unconditional bail until his next appearance for a case management hearing at the same court in August this year.
Judge Kirstie Watson told him: “The earliest the trial can be accommodated in this building is August 29 2028… The case will next be before the court on August 26 for a further case management hearing.
“That’s to give time for the prosecution to serve all their evidence, for your legal team to consider it and advise you.”