Hard-up woman agreed to help her neighbour smuggle illegal immigrants

SHE WAS DRIVING THE VAN WHEN THEY WERE STOPPED BY BORDER FORCE OFFICERS IN FRANCE

- By MARK NAYLOR

A HARD-up Scunthorpe woman tried to make some quick easy money by helping her scheming neighbour in a brazen attempt to smuggle five Vietnamese illegal immigrants into this country by hiding them in the back of a van.

She helped him out by driving the van for him because he was banned from the roads at the time but disaster struck during the journey in France when Border Force officers stopped and searched the van.

The immigrants were discovered hiding behind motorcycle parts and other items in cramped conditions inside the van, a court heard.

Denice Blendell, 62, of Burr-ingham Road, Scunthorpe, admitted facilitating a breach of the United Kingdom's immigration law.

Andrew Stainton, 48, of Forster Street, Gainsborough, admitted conspiracy to breach the United Kingdom's immigration law.

Anthony Dunne, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court that Stainton bought a Ford Transit van for £1,800 about a fortnight before the offences were discovered.

The van was stopped by Border Force officers on March 4, 2022, during a check in a zone of France that was controlled by the United Kingdom.

Blendell was the driver and Stainton was the passenger. She was driving because, at the time, Stainton was banned from driving.

Blendell was, at the time, a neighbour of his and she was on good terms with him. He asked her if she would help with the trip and she agreed, knowing what was involved.