Pilot charged after 'four illegal Albanian immigrants brought to UK in private plane'

A PILOT has been charged with attempting to fly illegal immigrants into the UK in a private aircraft (file image). Richard Styles, 52, appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with facilitating a breach of immigration law. Styles, of no fixed abode, was detained at Deenethorpe Airfield near Corby, in Northamptonshire after his twin-engine plane flew into the airfield from Belgium. Police stopped a taxi which had left the airfield, arresting the driver and four Albanian nationals. The taxi driver, a 42-year-old man from Tooting, South London, was questioned and bailed pending further enquiries. The Albanian nationals, three men and a woman all aged between 21 and 64, remain detained under immigration powers. During a short hearing, Styles indicated he will plead not guilty to the offence.

Hevwas remanded into custody to appear at Leicester Crown Court on April 25.