Husband, 69, and wife, 73, appear in court accused of trying to smuggle eight Albanians into the UK in a hired Fiat Ducato motorhome
- James Kimber, 69, has denied trying to smuggle eight Albanians into the UK
- He was with his wife Margaret, 73, when they were stopped by Border Force
- Eight migrants were discovered in the hired motorhome on February 25, 2019
- Mr Kimber pleaded not guilty to one offence of assisting unlawful immigration
- It was said Ms Kimber shouldn’t be arraigned on offence due to health concerns
A pensioner has denied trying to smuggle eight Albanians into the UK in a hired motorhome.
James Kimber, 69, was with his wife Margaret, 73, when they were stopped by Border Force officials at the Channel Tunnel control zone in Coquelles, France, on February 25, 2019.
Eight migrants were discovered in the hired Fiat Ducato motorhome, with one hiding in the toilet.
The couple, from Feltham, Middlesex, were both arrested and charged.
James Kimber, 69, was with his wife Margaret, 73, (both pictured) when they were stopped by Border Force officials at the Channel Tunnel control zone in Coquelles, France, on February 25, 2019
During a pre-trial review hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, Mr Kimber pleaded not guilty to one offence of assisting unlawful immigration.
But Judge Catherine Moore agreed that Ms Kimber, who sat in the dock with her husband, should not be arraigned on the same offence due to concerns over her health.
The delay means their trial, which was to start in a two-week list commencing January 31, is now not expected to get underway before March.
Judge Moore ordered a further hearing to update the court on Ms Kimber’s condition and a medical assessment, to be held on February 11.
Mr Kimber also has a number of health issues, the court was told.
The couple, who were accompanied to the court hearing by their daughter, were released on unconditional bail.
During a pre-trial review hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, Mr Kimber pleaded not guilty to one offence of assisting unlawful immigration. But Judge Catherine Moore agreed that Ms Kimber, who sat in the dock with her husband, should not be arraigned on the same offence due to concerns over her health
In September 2020, a magistrates’ court hearing was told Mr Kimber was driving the motorhome, with his wife sitting in the front seat, when they were stopped.
A vehicle inspection led to the discovery of one Albanian male in the toilet and seven more men hiding behind a curtained bunk above the driver and front passenger seats.
At the same hearing, the court was told that the motorhome, which had a central locking system, had been hired three days earlier.
No details of where the couple had been travelling before heading back to the UK have been revealed.
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