A people smuggler has been jailed after he was caught trying to sneak an Iraqi man through the Channel Tunnel - in his boot.

Ibrahim Erkal claimed he had been to Paris on a two-day "sightseeing trip" when suspicious Border Force officers stopped his Mercedes.

A search of the vehicle found the illegal migrant hidden beneath sheets of cardboard in the boot and an investigation found that the 34-year-old had been in contact with him using his mobile phone.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Erkal, from Swindon, Wilts, was charged with assisting unlawful entry to Britain and sentenced on the same day to 15 months in prison.

Assistant Director David Fairclough, from the Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigations team, said: "This was an unsophisticated attempt to breach the UK's immigration controls and one that, the court found, was motivated by money.

"The sentence handed out should serve as a warning to anyone tempted to get involved in the vile trade of people smuggling.

"We will catch you, and put you before the courts.

"We will continue to work closely with Border Force colleagues to rigorously investigate allegations of immigration related criminality."

The Iraqi man was passed to the French Police.