The retirees were hit with a whopping fine after a Sudanese migrant was found in their trailer (Image: MEN Media/Getty)
A retired ambulance worker has issued a warning to travellers heading to after he was hit with a huge fine over a migrant stowaway.
Peter Hughes, 75, from Droylsden, Tameside, was given a £6,000 fine after a migrant was found hiding in his small camping trailer at the Port of trying to sneak into the UK.
Mr Hughes received a letter from the ‘Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Team’, part of the , telling him the “Secretary of State had decided” he was ‘”liable to a penalty of £6,000″.
The letter accused him of failing to check the trailer before arriving at immigration control at Calais.
Mr Hughes appealed for common sense due to the fact that he had no knowledge of the unwanted traveller, but it took substantial political and media pressure, and an appeal for the fine to be reduced to £150.
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Mr Hughes was left shocked after receiving the fine of £6,000 (Image: MEN Media)
The pensioner, who was once given a long-service award by the late said: “I was in the phone first thing on the Monday following the arrival of the letter on the Friday. When I rang them they had to double check the amount, it was still showing £6,000.
“I don’t think the woman who answered my call was impressed with my reaction when she asked for the full amount.”
Rather than common sense immediately prevailing, Mr Hughes was forced to enact the help of his local MP who took on the case with the UK Border Force.
He eventually received a letter which informed him that “after careful consideration” he would be given a revised fine but that his “liability stands”. Mr Hughes begrudgingly paid the fine.
Mr Hughes and his wife Anne were returning from a camping holiday in France when a young Sudanese man was found hiding by border officials.
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He added: “There are many people that travel into Europe for camping holidays – the more of them that are aware of what can happen the better. I wouldn’t wish the problems that we have had on anyone. The stress upon us has been awful.
“We have all seen the television reports about illegal immigrants stowing away in goods vehicles and I am sure the majority of us, like myself, wouldn’t even consider my particular circumstances.
“Perhaps the ferry companies and Eurotunnel could start issuing warnings to people who make bookings that include a trailer, to be aware that the illegal immigrants target everyone, not just HGV’s.”
says that the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme is designed to secure the nation’s borders and ensure that drivers take appropriate caution to prevent illegal migrants from being able to obtain transport into the UK.
The scheme is designed to tackle negligence rather than criminality, with those deliberately helping migrants to enter the UK prosecuted under a different statute.