Two British men held on trafficking charges

Two British men have been remanded in custody charged with immigration offences after 18 Albanians were rescued from a sinking boat in the English Channel.

Mark Stribling, 35, from Farningham, Kent, and Robert Stilwell, 33, from Dartford, appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court to face charges under Section 25 (1) of the Immigration Act 1971.

They were ordered to remain in custody until the next hearing, at Maidstone Crown Court on June 27.