Soldier With Gambling Debts Jailed For Smuggling Migrants
A soldier “desperate” for money joined a ring of migrant smugglers so he could pay off spiralling gambling debts prompted by the horror of seeing his best friend killed in action, a court has heard.
Lance Corporal Kyle Harris was jailed for three years on Friday for his part in the conspiracy which saw him earn £5,000 a time for smuggling Kurdish asylum seekers into the UK from the Calais Jungle.
The member of the Princess of Wales Regiment served two tours in Afghanistan before moving to the Barker Barracks in Paderborn, Germany.
While on leave, he would travel home hiding migrants in the boot of his car, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
The 30-year-old, dressed in a dark suit with white shirt and grey tie, wiped tears from his eyes as defence barrister Isabelle Gillard told the court how he battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after seeing his best friend and colleague blown up by a bomb.
Private Thomas Lake, 29, died in 2011 while Harris was completing his second tour of an isolated part of Helmand Province.
He tried to save him but watched in vain as he died, Gillard said.
Described as a courageous and disciplined soldier who had served in the Army for six years in frontline infantry, Harris was trusted with “significant roles above his rank” and had an “exemplary disciplinary record” including several “significant achievements” such as winning medals for his work, Gillard said.
The Army was “his life” but after the death he became withdrawn and was “struggling with demons”, having nightmares and experiencing insomnia, Ms Gillard said, adding: “The events that day led directly in a downward spiral to him committing these offences.”
He was put on anti-depressants but given “very little assistance” by the Army mental health team so turned to drink, drugs and then became addicted to gambling using the base camp wifi late at night, racking up debts of £30,000 and so was “desperate for money”.
Judge Adele Williams gave him credit for pleading guilty to conspiracy to assist in unlawful immigration and money laundering – reducing his sentence to a total of three years in light of his personal circumstances.
She said: “You have served your country and suffered PTSD as a result of your service and witnessed the death of your best friend.”
Middlesbrough car wash owner Zinden Ahmed was jailed for 10 years for his part in the conspiracy and possession with intent to supply a class A drug after around 136 grams (5oz) of high-purity cocaine with the street value of £13,600 was found at his home.