A Carlisle man and a mother-to-be have admitted involvement in an illegal people smuggling plot which ran for several weeks during mid-2020.
Francis Joseph Pattinson, 30, and Stasia Manderson, 28, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this afternoon.
Both admitted being involved in a conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.
Their criminal activity, the court heard, occurred between August 1 and 24 of 2020. During that time they conspired together and allegedly with others to facilitate a breach of immigration law involving the illegal entry into the UK of individuals knowing that those individuals were not UK nationals.
The conspiracy is said to have involved illegally bringing people to the UK from mainland Europe.
Pattinson was said to be a serving prisoner, having been handed a lengthy jail term in early 2022.
Defence barrister Andrew Scott, for Manderson, said she was due to give birth in October this year. Explaining her role in the conspiracy, Mr Scott said: “She accepts that she went over to Europe initially. She was unaware of what would be asked of her.
“When it was asked of her, she did as she did and she had the opportunity whilst on the continent to stop. She didn’t.”
Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned the cases of Pattinson, previously of Briar Bank, Carlisle, and Manderson, of Johnston Street, Gateshead. They will be sentenced in due course with a provisional date of 6th September set by the judge.
In the meantime, Pattinson remains in custody while Manderson was bailed.
- Two other men from the Carlisle area, aged 56 and 34, deny the same conspiracy charge. They are due to stand trial in front of a jury at the crown court in June next year.
