A GANG of people smugglers who used a plane based at Headcorn Aerodrome to fly in illegal immigrants to remote airstrips have been jailed for a total of more than 20 years.

Up to 40 Turkish asylum seekers were flown from France and Belgium into unguarded landing fields around the M25, including a grass airstrip at Lamberhurst.

A six-passenger, leather-upholstered Piper Cherokee aircraft - which pilot Wyatt Anderson, 49, kept at Headcorn - was used by the gang to smuggle in the passengers.

The gang was arrested in July 2004 after the National Crime Squad intercepted them collecting five immigrants that Anderson had flown in to the Lamberhurst airstrip.

Organiser Mensur Hassan, 35, was jailed for 10 years at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court on Monday for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry to the UK, and Anderson, who refused to give evidence, for seven years, on the same charge. Both had pleaded not guilty.

The court had previously heard that the gang staked out the airstrips well in advance of any flight to make sure the cargo could be quickly dropped off without attracting any attention.

The plane, owned by Anderson, from Camberley, Surrey, was used on at least nine occasions between May 12 and July 2, when it was intercepted by police and customs officers on the second flight made that day.

Anderson, a father of two, was arrested when he landed at Headcorn.

Fevzullah Gulsen , 29, the owner of the café in north London where the illegal immigrants were taken after landing, was jailed for three years.

Anthony Davies, 44, was jailed for 15 months. His wife Jeanette Davies, 43, was sentenced to eight months, suspended for two years, and driver Isa Baskaya, 47, was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years.