(Image: Gareth Fuller/PA)
AN African man living in Bradford charged with piloting a small boat illegally across the English Channel will stand trial in two years’ time.
Idris Abdu, 24, who is from Eritrea, is charged with “conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national” in relation to a Channel crossing in May 2025.
Abdu, who lives in asylum accommodation, faces two charges brought by the Home Office.
They are:
- Conspiracy to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national - On 13/05/2025 at UK Territorial Waters conspired to do an act, namely the act facilitated the commission of a breach of immigration law by those persons, and those persons are not nationals of the United Kingdom, which facilitated the commission of a breach of immigration law, namely piloting a RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) / dinghy / boat containing Idris Abdu - persons who were not nationals of the United Kingdom, knowing or having reasonable cause for believing that they were not a national of the United Kingdom.
- Arrive in UK without a valid entry clearance - On 13/05/2025 at Dover, UK, being a person who required entry clearance under the immigration rules, knowingly arrived in the United Kingdom without a valid entry clearance.
What happened at the latest hearing?
During a brief appearance before Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday, Abdu spoke via a Tigrigna interpreter.
His Honour Judge Colin Burn set a two-day trial to begin in August 2028 and granted Abdu unconditional bail.
He will next appear in court on June 26, 2028, for a pre-trial hearing.
What the judge said
Judge Burn told Abdu: “Your trial is still due to take place, I’m afraid, in two years’ time.
“It’s very important that you keep in touch with your solicitors between now and that trial in August of 2028.
“If you find yourself, for example, having your address moved or if you move address yourself, you’ll need to make sure your solicitors know that new address because obviously the case could be brought back into court at any time.
“If you are not notified of that, or you fail to attend, you would be in breach of bail and committing an offence.”
He added: “You are free to leave the dock on those terms, Mr Abdu.”