A people smuggler who posed for selfies while piloting an overcrowded boat across the channel has been jailed.

Reda Hamoud Abdurabou, 25, was sentenced today to three years and two months after being caught at the rudder of a small boat packed with fifty asylum seekers attempting to reach the UK illegally.

The Egyptian national took charge of the dangerously overcrowded boat in July 2022, and took a selection of pictures of himself with his hand on the tiller.

However, just moments later the dinghy was intercepted by Border Force officers, who reported seeing people balancing on the edge of the inflatable, with others sat on the floor of the boat where fuel-contaminated water was pooling on top of makeshift flooring.

Abdurabou was arrested on arrival in the UK and his mobile phone was seized.

He was quickly interviewed, charged and remanded in custody on the same day of his arrival.

Investigating teams found messages on his phone about his attempt to reach the UK illegally, along with the collection of selfies – all of which formed evidence to support his conviction.

Abdurabou was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court today (Friday, September 1) after being found guilty of assisting unlawful immigration to the UK and attempting to enter the country illegally.

Chris Foster, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations at the Home Office, said: “This defendant gloated as he risked dozens of lives by crossing the Channel illegally. Anyone willing to take the helm of these small boats can expect to be arrested and prosecuted.

“I want to praise the quick work of my officers who have brought this criminal to justice. His sentence shows that our teams are working relentlessly to clamp down on this illegal trade.”