A CARLISLE man accused of being part of a plot to smuggle Albanian nationals into the UK told a jury he knew nothing about the conspiracy.

Neil Sowerby, 57, took part in two trips to Belgium when he travelled with another Carlisle man from the city who has since admitted being part of a people smuggling conspiracy.

The plot was first uncovered in August 2020. Francis Pattinson, 30, has already admitted being a part of it.

But, along with co-defendant Paul Watson, 35, Sowerby, of Petteril Street, Carlisle denies being involved in the conspiracy, saying he made the trips to buy alcohol and tobacco.

He and his co-defendant say the were innocently caught up in the events surrounding the people smuggling operation.

At Carlisle Crown Court, the jury have been told that the allegations came to light after UK Border Police working on the French side of the Eurotunnel discovered eight Albanian nationals hiding in the back of two pickup trucks.

Pattinson went on both trips to Belgium with Sowerby in August, 2020. A woman who drove one of the pickups has also admitted her involvement. In his evidence, Sowerby confirmed he has no previous convictions.

Under questioning by defence barrister Ged Doran, he said he had suffered a heart attack in 2017 and not worked again until 2021 but he said he was not short of money.

He owned two rental properties, and his wife earned good money as a self-employed hairdresser.

He was also receiving “good money off the government” at the time and his parents would often give him money – sums of £10,000 whenever he asked, he said.

Sowerby said he could sell some of the things he collected, such as oil paintings, bourbon whiskies, or Indian rugs. Asked about Francis Pattinson, he said that at the time of the trips to Belgium he was “becoming a friend.”

When he and Watson arranged the trips, the intention was for just them to go, he said. When Pattinson asked to go also, he told him: “Of course you can,” he said.

They drove two vehicles to France because he had osteoarthritis and did not want to travel in the “uncomfortable” Nissan Pattinson brought and which Watson agreed to drive.

When they arrived on the first occasion in Ghent, he sought out an alcohol supplier who told him he was due to get in some limited edition Canadian Whistlepig Bourbon whiskey. He reserved to bottles of this, saying he would return to collect it in two weeks.

Sowerby accepted ordering a cover for the rear of one of the pickup trucks in which the Albanians were found.

“I could see no problem; I was just ordering for a friend,” he said. That was a reference to a man called Tony whom Pattinson had asked him to collect for the first journey to Belgium. 

Sowerby was then asked about calls from his phone that Pattinson made to Watson when they were returning to the UK after the second trip on August 22, 2020. He said Pattinson had told him he had smashed his own phone.

As a result, he needed to borrow his phone, said Sowerby.

“Did you ask him why [he has snapped his phone],” asked Mr Doran. Sowerby said: “He said there were things on his phone that he didn’t want anyone to see. I just thought he is obviously up to no good.”

Asked about his view of the second trip, he said he was happy with the whiskey he bought. After returning to Carlisle, he said, a neighbour had heard a rumour about Pattinson being involved in people smuggling.

He told police when they arrived that he thought their visit may be about the “two girls”, a reference to the two women who driven the pickup trucks in which the Albanians were found, who followed them on the journey.

He did not know either woman, he said.

Referring to the eight Albanian nationals, he said: “I was under the impression that they just jumped into the back of the truck… you see it on TV all the time.”

In earlier evidence, Sowerby, of Petteril Street, Carlisle, accepted that in April 2021 police found six cannabis plants growing in his loft. He said he used the drug in a butter form to ease the pain of his osteoarthritis.

The trial continues.