Photo of the hiding place where Albanian national was found inside lorry at Poole Port revealed

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, Vasile-Vierol Grosu was arrested after a man and two women were found hiding in the cabin of his vehicle in Poole Port last year.

Grosu, a Romanian national who had arrived at Poole on a ferry from Cherbourg, said he had met a Bulgarian man at a truck park in France who asked if he wanted to take people to the UK for extra money in time for Christmas.

The defendant, 36, agreed to it but claimed he didn't know it was illegal or realise the severity of the offence.

The Albanians were discovered during a Border Force search when an officer spotted a hand underneath some clothing lying on the top bunk of a bed.

Both women were found lying under the clothes on the bunk, while the man was hidden underneath the lower bunk bed.

All three were arrested, detained and deported back to Albania.

Grosu admitted attempting to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and was jailed for two years when he appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday.

Nick Jupp of Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigations said: "If Grosu genuinely did not understand the stakes he was playing with when he attempted this criminal act, the custodial sentence handed to him by the courts can leave him under no illusions now.

"This was a gamble that went badly wrong.

"People smuggling is a vile trade that treats often vulnerable individuals as commodities.

"I hope this case serves as a warning to anyone tempted to get involved with this kind of crime.

"Working closely with Border Force colleagues we will identify the criminals behind illegal entry attempts and they will be jailed."

Judge Brian Forster QC said Grosu had agreed "on the spur of the moment".

"It was an easy way to obtain money which would have benefitted your family."

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org