An alleged people smuggler from Trimley is today due to begin his defence at Crown Curt.

John Lockwood, of Mill Lane, Trimley St Martin, is accused of being part of gang which tried to smuggle an illegal immigrant into the UK in a hidden compartment in the back of van on a P&O ferry at Dover..

Lockwood, 32, will today offer his defence at Ipswich Crown Court after denying assisting in the unlawful immigration of an Albanian national between October 14 and 17, 2019.

Ipswich Crown Court had already heard how Lockwood was with three other men, including Richard Halls, from Melton, in Rosehill Road, Ipswich, looking into the rear of the van with torches the day before it was driven to Dover.

The next day Halls drove the van to a car park at Ipswich Hospital and allegedly met up with Lockwood who was driving a VW pickup truck.

Halls took a toolbox from the pickup and put it in the van and Lockwood was then allegedly seen to drive off in the van before it was driven to Dover by Elliott Thompson of Ipswich Road, Stowmarket.

The court has heard that Richard Halls, 39, of St Andrews Place, Melton, Thompson and three other men had admitted the charge at earlier hearings.

The trial continues today.