A man previously convicted of terrorism offences in Italy has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after entering the United Kingdom illegally for a second time via a small boat crossing.
From Indefinite Leave to Terror Conviction
Rebwar Hamad, 48, originally from Iraq, first arrived in the UK in 2001 and was later granted indefinite leave to remain. However, his status unravelled when, in 2019, he was convicted in his absence by an Italian court for terrorism-related crimes. He was subsequently extradited to Italy in 2020 to serve his sentence.
Upon his release from prison in Italy, Hamad was ordered to leave the country within seven days. He then applied for a UK visa, but his application was refused. Undeterred by the legal rejection, he turned to people smugglers, paying 1,200 Euros (approximately £1,050) for a place on an inflatable dinghy destined for the British coast.
Intercepted Crossing and Arrest
Hamad's journey reached its conclusion on September 19 this year, when the dinghy he was travelling on was intercepted by an RNLI lifeboat off the coast of Dover. He was among a group of migrants brought ashore. A few days later, during an interview with immigration officers at Margate police station, Hamad declined to comment on the circumstances of his arrival.
He later pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to arrive in the United Kingdom without valid entry clearance. The case was prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for the South East.
Sentencing and Official Response
At Canterbury Crown Court, Hamad was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. The CPS emphasised to the judge that the sentence should reflect the seriousness of his repeat offending and his prior terrorism conviction.
Peter Cockrill from the CPS stated: 'Rebwar Hamad showed a blatant disregard for immigration rules by coming to the UK illegally for a second time and after serving a prison sentence for terrorism offences in Italy.' He added that the prosecution argued for the toughest possible sentence given these aggravating factors.
The investigation was led by Immigration Enforcement, an agency of the Home Office. The CPS reiterated its commitment to tackling illegal immigration networks, stating it will continue to work with law enforcement and international partners, including the Border Security Command, to disrupt people smuggling operations.
