Two men jailed after woman and child die in migrant boat Channel crossing to Dover
Two boat pilots have been jailed following the deaths of two people who were trying to cross the English Channel on a small boat.
Shortly after leaving a beach near Calais, a woman and child were pulled off an overcrowded boat, which was carrying more than 70 people, by a French coastal patrol vessel, but were declared dead.
Afghan nationals Shah Salim Sajjadi, 38, and Safiollah Mohammadi, 25, arrested after the boat arrived into UK waters on 21 May.
They were sentenced to eight months in prison.
The pilots of the boat were detained and questioned by National Crime Agency investigators, shortly after arriving in Dover.
They were later charged with facilitating illegal immigration to the UK, and pleaded guilty at a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates on 24 May.NCA Branch Commander Adam Berry said: "This tragic incident demonstrates just how dangerous these crossings are, and the callous nature of those who organise them."The boat in question was dangerously over-crowded, but Sajjadi and Mohammadi chose to carry on their journey."
Police in France are also investigating the circumstances of the fatalities, due to orders from the Dunkirk prosecutor's office.
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