Asylum seeker jailed after small boat crossing

An asylum seeker who traveled to the UK in a small boat across the English Channel was jailed for seven months after admitting an illegal entry attempt. Friday Rout, 21, from South Sudan, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday following his admission to trying to arrive without valid clearance on 26 May. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of endangering others during the sea crossing, but the prosecution accepted a version of that allegation. Judge Simon James said there is “significant and legitimate public concern” regarding breaches of border control, and that the seriousness of this method of entry required an immediate custodial term. The judge noted Rout’s outstanding asylum claim in the UK did not provide a defense. Rout’s barrister, Georgia Morgan, said he is still very young and sought safety after fleeing a war-torn country.