A man who brought illegal immigrants to Essex via small boat has claimed he did it to pay for his mother’s cancer treatment.
Christian Albano, an Italian national, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court with three others where he was accused of criminal conduct between June 29 and July 2.
A 24-minute hearing heard Albano, 45, became involved in the trade to ‘make quick money’ for his unwell mother.
He spoke only to confirm his identity and enter a guilty plea to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration to the UK.
Konrad Dabrowski, 25, Damian Ciuron, 41, and Illia Prendi all deny the same offence.
Albanian national Fation Kalemaj, 44, was not asked to appear at court to enter a plea to the charge.
Kalemaj allegedly arrived at a boat with Dabrowski and Ciuron where several people had been unlawfully transported to Britain.
Albano was described as the ‘pilot’ of the vessel which travelled from the Netherlands and arrived close to Holland-on-Sea, near Clacton.
A man who brought illegal immigrants to Essex via small boat has claimed he did it to pay for his mother’s cancer treatment (file image)
Olivia Rawlings, defending Albano, had an application for an early sentencing refused by Judge Wilkin.
She said Albano would like to be deported ‘as soon as possible’.
Addressing the judge, Ms Rawlings said: ‘He recognises his sentence will lead to his deportation and he wants that as soon as possible.
‘His mother is unwell with cancer in Italy. His involvement in this offending, he tells me, was to make quick money to help pay for cancer treatment for his parents.’
The court heard a provisional trial date would be scheduled for March next year. All five men remain in custody.
Judge Wilkin said: ‘Mr Albano you have pleaded guilty. You will be sentenced in due course, that will be at the conclusion of your co-defendants’ trial. You will be remanded into custody until your sentencing.
‘For the remainder of you, you pled not guilty and the trial has been set for March next year.’
The National Crime Agency previously said each of the five men was charged with facilitating illegal immigration in connection with an incident which saw a number of people detained for immigration offences in Holland-on-Sea, near Clacton, on July 1.
It said six people who were on board the boat were detained and would be dealt with by Immigration Enforcement.
