A women's rights activist has been jailed today after trying to smuggle her son into the UK during a visit to the former refugee camp known as The Jungle.

The former Afghan science teacher had gone to Calais under the cover of highlighting the plight of women in the camp.

But on the return journey, the car in which Gulsoom Satarzai, 50, was travelling was stopped by UK border officials at Coquelles.

And a jury at Canterbury Crown Court heard that her 25-year-old son was discovered stashed inside the boot.

Defence barrister Kieran Brand in making a plea for mercy said it had been “an unsophisticated “ attempt to smuggle him into Britain where her husband and other children now live.

Satarzai, who had taught science in Kabul, came to Britain on an academic visa in 2013 but then claimed asylum . She had come into conflict with the Taliban because of her work for women’s human rights.

In October 2016 she travelled to France with a writer, whose father is in the House of Lords and another activist who had met Hillary Clinton. Both women were cleared of helping in the smuggling attempt.

They had travelled to France with a Daily Telegraph reporter and photographer to highlight the plight of women in the refugee camp.

But the jury was told Satarzai had “taken advantage of the humanitarian and journalistic” visit to try to bring her son into Britain illegally.

Now she has been jailed for a year and was led away from the dock crying. Her sobs could still be heard after being taken to the cells.

The court heard that the Home Office will take a decision whether or not order her deportation after she is released – but it is thought unlikely.