A PILOT and five others appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today accused of conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country.

Wyatt Anderson, 46, is alleged to have twice landed a light aircraft at Lamberhurst carrying a total of nine illegal immigrants on July 2.

Mr Anderson, of London Road, Camberley, Surrey, appeared in court via a TV link from Elmley Prison, Sheppey, with Mensur Hassan, 32, of Daubney Road, Clapton, North London, and Anthony Davies, 41, of Chalfont Road, Edmonton, North London.

In the dock on bail were Mr Davies’s wife, Jeanette, 40, Isa Baskaya, 45, from London, and taxi driver Indat Oztas, 29, of Carleton Road, Hornsey, North London,

Philip St John-Stevens, prosecuting, said there were ongoing investigations in relation to further alleged conspirators and witnesses, both in this country and abroad.

Tom Stern applied for bail on behalf of Mr Anderson, who is married with two stepdaughters.

Judge Anthony Balston refused bail and Mr Anderson, Anthony Davies and Mensur Hassan were remanded in custody.

Mr Oztas, a British citizen married with two children, was refused a variation on his bail which would allow him to take a family holiday in August to his home country of Turkey.

The six will return to court on September 20 when they are expected to enter pleas to the charge.