French 'pilot' charged with smuggling people

A French national has been charged with smuggling seven foreigners into Britain in a light aircraft, police said today.

Officers were called to Laddingford Airfield, near Maidstone, Kent, on Saturday after a plane landed there without permission.

Seven foreign nationals were referred to the UK Border Agency and Eric Adrien Laou-Hep, 39, who allegedly piloted the aircraft, was charged with assisting illegal entry.

A Kent Police spokesman said Laou-Hep appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court today and was remanded in custody to appear again at a later date.