Pensioner Fined £6,000 for Stowaway Incident

Peter Hughes, a 75-year-old retired ambulance worker from Tameside, faces a £6,000 fine after a Sudanese migrant was discovered hiding in the trailer of his motorhome at the Port of Calais. Hughes and his wife Anne, 78, were unaware of the stowaway, believing he likely entered their trailer while they stopped at a supermarket before heading to the ferry. Despite fully cooperating with authorities, the Home Office has upheld the fine, citing the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme aimed at deterring irregular migration. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has initiated an urgent investigation into the incident, acknowledging the distress caused to the couple. Hughes has expressed his outrage, calling the enforcement action 'obscene' and is considering an appeal. This incident has raised questions about the fairness of penalties imposed on individuals unaware of such situations.