A man who was caught crossing the channel in a small boat had been living in this country for years illegally but popped to France for a week for a visit.

Dalyit Singh was found in a boat along with others crossing the English Channel on June 11, as he was trying to and get back to his home in Medway.

He had apparently set off from the French coast but was intercepted by Border Force officers in UK waters.

Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard he had previously entered this country illegally in 2006 and had been jailed for 12 months.

However, that didn't stop the 52-year-old leaving Kent to visit France for a week, but on his way back, the small boat he was travelling in was intercepted.

He, along with the others in the vessel, was taken to Dover and then taken to Manston immigration processing centre in Thanet.

Once his identity was confirmed, it was found he had no clearance to enter the UK and had not applied for it.

As a result, he was charged with arriving in the UK without valid entry clearance and admitted the offence when he appeared at before magistrates on June 13. He gave an address to the court of High Street, Strood.

Christina Rowberry, prosecuting, said: “This is a classic small boat case which was discovered in UK waters and had set off from the French coast on June 11.

“Everyone on the boat was taken to Manston and he was identified and had no clearance and had not applied for clearance.

“An aggravating feature in this case was he has a previous conviction [for doing the same] as in 2006 he first entered the UK saying he was trying to get employment. It is unknown how he got here.

“He was arrested in 2007 for illegal entry and a French passport was found in his possession. He appeared at Maidstone Crown Court and served a 12 month sentence.”

District Judge Justin Barron also heard Singh, who speaks Punjabi, should then have presented himself to the immigration authorities as he was due to be deported but had absconded. His location up until this month was unknown.

Ms Rowberry added: “His location has not been known since. He’s aware of the process involved and needs clearance to enter the UK.

“And in his own account [to the authorities], he said he had been to France for week and had tried to come back.”

Judge Barron decided to sent Singh’s case to the Canterbury Crown Court to be dealt with and he was remanded in custody until then.

The date of his sentencing is yet to be fixed.