Two men today admitted people smuggling after a boat with 18 Albanians aboard began sinking off the Kent coast.

Former judo champion Robert Stilwell, of Stanley Close, Greenhithe, and Mark Stribling, of Hilltop Farm, Farningham, near Swanley, entered the plea at Maidstone Crown Court by video link with Elmley Prison, Sheppey.

Stilwell, 33, who represented Great Britain and held European and Commonwealth titles, and Stribling, 35, will be sentenced on July 29. They were remanded in custody.

They were charged with conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of a member state, that between May 27 and 30 they conspired with others to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by non-European persons, namely 18 Albanian nationals.

Neil Guest, for Stribling, said the pleas were tendered on the basis they were “hired boatmen and not hierarchy”.

Prosecutor Nina Ellin said the basis of plea was accepted.

Stilwell and Stribling were arrested after the inflatable boat got into difficulties off the coast of Dymchurch on Saturday, May 28.

Lifeboat and coastguard crews were involved after reports the rigid-hulled boat had been spotted shortly before midnight and was taking on water.

A helicopter was scrambled and the migrants were eventually found at 2am and taken ashore to Dover and into the custody of the UK Border Force.

A lifeboatman whose crew took part in the rescue later warned about the dangers of the stretch of water in which the vessel was found listing.

Trevor Bunney, of Dungeness Lifeboat Station, said: “The Dungeness and Littlestone lifeboats were called out at 11.45pm on Saturday and the boat was found in choppy waters.

“The Dover Straits is a dangerous stretch of water at the best of times. The weather and sea conditions are unpredictable and at this time of year the water is still very cold.”

Mr Bunney also warned sea conditions in the Dover Straits were much more treacherous than Mediterranean waters, where thousands of migrants have already perished trying to get to Greece or Italy on boats.

The arrests of Stilwell and Stribling came just days before new powers to bolster Britain’s maritime security came into force.

From May 31, Border Force officers were able to stop, board, divert and detain vessels and arrest anyone they suspect had broken immigration law.

Patrol vessels will also be introduced, helping to intercept attempts to smuggle dangerous weapons, drugs and migrants into the country.

The first batch will be in place in the coming months, with all of the vessels operational by the end of next year.

They will add to the protection already offered by the Border Force cutters and Royal Navy vessels which patrol the UK coastline.

Miss Ellin said there was video footage from the helicopter which showed the condition the migrants were in when they found.

“There are two statements from the illegal entrants setting out where they came from and the conditions on the boat,” she added.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens told Stilwell and Stribling they would get full credit for their early guilty pleas when sentenced.