Isle of Wight man denies smuggling people into UK on yacht
12 people were found aboard a yacht at East Cowes Marina in March 2020
A 54-year-old man from the Isle of Wight has pleaded not guilty to smuggling 12 migrants into the UK illegally on board a yacht
Robbie Hounsham, of Ashley Road, Ryde, appeared at Newport Crown Court where he denied the charge.
The charge related to 12 people "suspected of being migrants entering the UK illegally" being found aboard the yacht at East Cowes Marina on March 19, 2020, according to the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Judge Richard Shepherd adjourned the trial until August 14, and released Hounsham on bail until then.
He told the defendant: "If you are not here at the trial, it will go ahead without you and the jury is going to look across at an empty dock and that's not going to help you."