A man who smuggled two Vietnamese nationals into the UK in the boot of his car to clear a gambling debt is wanted again by police.
Gavin Charters, 42, from Netherton, was arrested in Coquelles in France by Border Force officers in February 2019 after a man and woman were found in his boot. Charters told officers he had been in France to meet a friend and go fishing - but there was no fishing equipment in his car and he was unable to reveal who he had met.
He later absconded from bail prompting a manhunt. Immigration Enforcement's Criminal and Financial Fugitive Active Search Team, part of the Home Office, worked alongside Merseyside and Essex Police to track him to an address in Clacton-on-Sea.
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Charters attempted to flee during the police raid but was apprehended. Investigations found he had run up gambling debts of around £9,000, which the payment for the journey would have gone some way to clearing.
He was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting assisting illegal entry into the UK. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and failing to report to court for his hearing.
Stephen Blackwell, Assistant Director for Criminal and Financial Investigations, said: "People smuggling is a cruel and exploitative crime. People like Gavin Charters do not care about the well-being of those they smuggle, only making a quick profit. Charters knowingly and flagrantly flouted laws set up to protect vulnerable people and the UK public."
The convicted people smuggler is wanted on recall to prison for breaching his licence conditions. Charters breached the conditions following his release from prison after serving his sentence for assisting illegal immigration.
In a wanted appeal issued by Merseyside Police's Sefton division, Charters is described as 6ft tall, with a broad build, hazel eyes and an Irish accent. He has known links to Liverpool, Clacton-on-Sea and Northern Ireland.
If you see Charters or hold any information, contact police via Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Twitter, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 22000810972.
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