A “fisherman” stands accused of hiding four Iraqi migrants, including a four-year-old, inside a wooden box bound for Kent.

A boy, girl, man and woman were uncovered stowed in the modified compartment of Royce Keenan’s van, at the Eurotunnel in Coquelles.

With his teenage son in the passenger seat, Keenan, 47, told officer Amy Durham the pair were returning from a fishing trip in France.

However a search of the Ford unearthed a wooden box, which Keenan claimed was to help furnish the vehicle with a cooker, a court heard.

Inside was a four-year-old boy, 10-year-old girl, and a man and woman, both believed to be 31, according to court papers.

“Officer John Cunningham discovered the unit could only be accessed from behind the driver’s seat and when he looked in, he could see people hiding inside,” prosecutor Edmund Fowler explained.

“The defendant was arrested and cautioned.

“The people were removed from the concealment and were found to be two adults, male and female and two children, a boy and a girl, of Iraqi descent.

“They were subsequently issued with notices for detainment and were each deemed to be illegal immigrants.”

Canterbury Crown Court today heard a search of the van revealed mobile phone and Sat Nav correspondence, appearing to link Keenan to the immigrants.

Mr Fowler argued a shared picture of a cathedral was a suggested meeting point.

“The significance of the photo of the cathedral is revealed when addresses found within the defendant’s Garmin Sat Nav are considered, and in particular, 2 Rues des Deportes, Soissons, Aisne.

“This just happens to be right outside the Cathedrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons.

“It is the very screenshot on female adult immigrant Nigar Hasan’s phone,” he told the jury.

“The idea these hapless individuals had just so happened on discovering a means to enter a van unnoticed, in an area several miles from a port, that just happened to have such a concealment within it, is quite ludicrous..." — prosecutor Edmund Fowler

Judge Mark Weekes heard Keenan gave a no comment police interview and later denied any knowledge of the stowaways.

But Mr Fowler dubbed the claim “ ludicrous” and called the fishing trip a “cynical ploy” to cover up for the alleged crime.

He continued: “The very idea that these hapless individuals had just so happened on discovering a means to enter a van unnoticed, in an area several miles from a port, that just happened to have such a concealment within it, is quite ludicrous.

“The simple curtain between these individuals, including two young young children, also would indicate that no driver could remain unaware of the presence of others.

“This is particularly so given how far into France Soissons is located.”

Keenan, of Hilbre Road, Deeside, Cheshire is accused of one people smuggling charge, after the alleged incident on December 17 last year.

The trial continues.

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