Two men will be sentenced later this week after admitting conspiring to smuggle four Iraqi nationals into Kent before their fishing boat had to be rescued.

The duo were arrested in August last year after being rescued from a fishing boat drifting out to sea.

Two men, a pregnant woman and a child were on board when the vessel, which was towed into Ramsgate Harbour.

Now Bradley Turner, 37, of Central Walk Road, Canvey Island and John Sheppard, 67, from of Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden have admitted being part of a conspiracy to smuggle people into the UK.

They will be sentenced on Thursday.

A third man Jake Sesay, 20, of Harrow Road, Clacton, was cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against him.

He had denied the conspiracy charge after later being arrested at the harbour.

Dominic Webber, for Turner, is expected to tell Canterbury Crown Court that his client came under pressure to take part in the scam – and will reveal phone messages in support of the claim.

Sheppard, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, and Turner have been remanded into custody pending the sentencing hearing.