‘Reckless’ people smuggling gang convicted for trying to take people across the Channel

Three men have been convicted over failed attempts to transport Vietnamese people across the Channel in rundown boats. The trio, all from the Folkestone area, made five attempts over 10 days to smuggle them from France to the UK.

A National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation watched the group, which was led by 57-year-old Freddy Lawrence, from Folkestone, and assisted by his close associates Keith Baigent, 63, also from Folkestone, and Paul Giglia, 64, from Cheriton. The group also conspired with three associates: Ronald Scott, Toby Lake and Stephen Chapman, who acted as overseas contact.

Of the five trips, four were made on a boat called the Sorel Light. Lawrence was seen buying the vessel from a boat yard on the Norfolk Broads for £30,000.

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Baigent was enlisted to go and get it, who ignored advice from the seller to transport it by road. Instead, the boat was skippered from Norfolk to Dover by Lawrence and Scott.

The UK-based group relied on chance to try and navigate the Channel, and would attempt to follow the cross-Channel Ferry. Attempts were made from Dover, Folkestone and Ramsgate, but none were successful due to repeated mechanical issues with the boats.

When the Sorel Light’s engine failed, Lawrence loaned a smaller Piscator boat from a breakage yard in Hollingbourne, which itself broke down and had to be towed back to the UK following an attempted trip to France. Scott, Lake and Chapman were all arrested just before the final attempt to set sail and prosecuted by French law enforcement.

They were sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, one year imprisonment, and two years imprisonment respectively. During that last attempt, French police conducting surveillance near Wimereux, a coastal town between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, spotted the Sorel Light about 100 metres from the beach.

They also saw 12 people of Vietnamese origin arriving on foot at a car park in the town, who then split into several groups before gathering on the beach. Flashes of light were seen emanating from the Sorel Light, with return signals coming from the people.

Some of them entered the water and swam towards the boat to try and get on board, at which point the French authorities intervened. Chapman jumped into the sea and attempted to swim away but was apprehended.

Meanwhile, the person piloting the boat moved it away at speed, causing a number of French officers to fall off a ladder and into the water. The police eventually caught up with the vessel and detained the people on board.

There were 11 Vietnamese people, together with Lake and Scott. The twelfth person had fallen into the water and was also detained.

The NCA said Lawrence tried to hide his criminality by using eight pay-as-you-go phones, unregistered vehicles and cash payments made via third parties. He would also use his associates’ phones and leave his at unrelated locations.

He is currently serving prison time for unrelated drugs offences following an investigation by Kent Police. Lawrence, Baigent and Giglia were arrested in October 2018.

They were charged with assisting unlawful immigration in May 2022. Lawrence pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on October 24 this year, with Giglia and Baigent convicted at the same court on November 14 and 15, respectively.

All three men are due to be sentenced in the new year. NCA senior investigating officer Dave Rock said: “This was a completely reckless enterprise which, had it been successful, would have put people into grave danger given the condition of the vessels, and the lack of experience of those trying to sail them. Lawrence and his associates were trying to navigate their way through one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, which was wilful negligence on their part.

“They were perfectly happy to risk the lives of their human cargo for the sake of profit. Fortunately, we were able to work closely with our French partners to stop them.

"Cases like these strengthen our resolve to dismantle the criminal networks behind organised immigration crime, and pursue every option available to save lives.” Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said: “This government is determined to take down the dangerous people smuggling gangs who prey on vulnerable people and fuel dangerous and illegal journeys.

"These callous criminals put several lives on the line and their vile scheme could have easily ended in tragedy. I’d like to thank the skilled investigators at the NCA for their tireless work to identify and disrupt these people smugglers who abuse our borders and put lives at risk.

"This case is a clear display that we won’t watch on while criminals flagrantly undermine our security. Those who participate in this evil trade will face the full force of the law.”

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