Refugee who walked through the Channel Tunnel will face trial
AN African migrant who walked into Britain through the Channel Tunnel will face prosecution, a judge ruled today.
Abdul Haroun will face prosecution after walking through the Channel Tunnel to get to the UK
Abdul Haroun will stand trial for the obscure charge of “obstructing an engine or carriage using a railway” under the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
Lawyers for the 40-year-old from Sudan wanted to have the case against him thrown out claiming “abuse of process”.
But Judge Adele Williams ruled at Canterbury Crown Court that the charges will be heard by the court on June 20.
I came because my life was in danger
The defendant is said to have travelled the 31 miles from Calais to Folkestone last August, before claiming asylum.
He was initially detained at Elmley Prison in Kent, then on Christmas Eve he was granted permission to stay in the UK and released.
Speaking of his journey afterwards, he said: “I came because my life was in danger.
The 40-year-old claims he came to Britain because his life was in danger
Abdul walked 31 miles under the English Channel
“I did not know I was going to be held in a police cell. If I had known I would not have come.”
Haroun, who was supported in court today by the charity Kent Refugee Help, was granted bail.
Mike Hookem MEP in Calais Migrant Camp
The Sudanese migrant arrived in Folkstone from Calais
He is originally from the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan.
He is now living in taxpayer-subsidised accommodation in east Kent.