JURORS in the case of two Carlisle men accused of being part of a people smuggling plot were today due to retire to begin considering verdicts.

Carlisle Crown Court yesterday heard the remaining evidence of 57-year-old Neil Sowerby, who along with his co-defendant Paul Watson, 35, denies being part of the plot to smuggle eight Albanian men into the UK.

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Christopher Rose, Sowerby said he and Watson planned a trip to Belgium in 2020 so that they could buy cheap alcohol and cigarettes.

The court had earlier heard that the people smuggling plot came to light in August 2020 when UK Border Police in France searched two pickup trucks, finding eight Albanians hiding in them.

The trucks had been about to enter the Eurotunnel.

Francis Pattinson, 30, from Carlisle, has already admitted being a part of the people smuggling conspiracy, as has one of the women who was driving one of the pickups that was involved.

Mr Rose quizzed Sowerby about why Pattinson went with him to Belgium on two trips in August 2020. Watson joined only the first of those trips.

The prosecution say that first trip was a “dry run” for the smuggling operation that was undertaken two weeks later. Asked if there was any reason why Pattinson wanted him on that trip, Sowerby said: “Yes.

“It was my name that had to be put on the form for the hire car… We went over to buy alcohol and tobacco. As far as I was concerned, that was the end of that.”

Mr Rose said there was “no good reason” for Pattinson to involve Sowerby unless he had been “a part of it.”

Sowerby said: “They didn’t involve me; I didn’t ask to go with them [Pattinson and a second man who was involved]. They asked to go with me. It was mine and Paul’s trip and they asked if they could come with us.”

Mr Rose said: “Why on earth would they let you and Paul Watson anywhere near their activities if you are nothing to do with it?”

Sowerby replied: “That was up to them; we knew nothing about any of that.” Mr Rose responded with: “If you are not part of this, you can’t be trusted to keep quiet. Why on earth involve you?”

Sowerby said: “They didn’t involve us; it was mine and Paul’s trip and they asked us if they could come on the trip. I had no reason to say no.”

Both Sowerby, of Petteril Street, Carlisle, and Watson, of Brisco, Carlisle, say they were "innocently caught up in" the people smuggling operation and knew nothing about it.

The judge in the case will sum up this morning before sending out the jury to consider their verdicts.

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