Soldier 'Part Of Illegal Immigrants Smuggling Ring'

Lance Corporal David Plumstead is charged with conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration (Picture: PA).

A serving soldier was part of a ring of smugglers trafficking illegal immigrants from the Calais Jungle into the UK, a court has heard.

Lance Corporal David Plumstead, 24, who was based at Barker Barracks in Paderborn, Germany, allegedly tried to help a fellow soldier in the Princess of Wales Regiment transport two migrants through the Channel Tunnel for a fee of £5,000 each.

He is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court alongside car wash owner Zindan Ahmed, 36, who is accused of financing the transportation of several migrants including his brother.

They face a charge of conspiracy to assist in unlawful immigration between November 1 2015 and July 1 2016.

Ahmed, who is in the dock with a Kurdish interpreter, and LCpl Plumstead allegedly conspired with Corporal Kyle Harris, 29, who brought three migrants into the UK between March and May 2016 on his trips home on leave.

The jury heard that Cpl Harris arranged with Ahmed to be paid £2,500 in advance and a further £2,500 once each of the migrants had been delivered to the UK.

He met them at a McDonald's restaurant in the town of Coquelles - just outside Calais and close to the entrance to the Channel Tunnel - where he loaded one or two migrants into the boot of his rental car, the court was told.

The court heard that on April 29 2016, LCpl Plumstead accompanied Cpl Harris in the car when they attempted to meet an unknown people smuggler at the McDonald's who was due to hand two migrants to Cpl Harris to take to the UK.

The meeting was unsuccessful and the two soldiers returned to the UK alone, and Plumstead denies knowing anything about the operation or helping Cpl Harris.

Prosecutor Walton Hornsby said: "David Plumstead's involvement in this conspiracy is a very minor one and did not involve the bringing of an illegal migrant into the UK.

"But in getting into the car and going to pick up a migrant he must have been an active participant with Kyle Harris on this particular trip.

"If that's correct than he played a minor but nonetheless significant part of this conspiracy."

LCpl Plumstead's alleged involvement came to light following Cpl Harris's arrest in May 2016 when an Iraqi and a Syrian migrant were found in the back of his car by border officials.

The jury heard that Cpl Harris pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in August and is awaiting sentence at the conclusion of the current trial.

LCpl Plumstead and Mr Ahmed deny conspiracy to assist in unlawful immigration.

The jury are due to rise to consider their verdict next week.