Chan Mathok Atak, a 19-year-old from South Sudan, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday under legislation targeting boat operators who transport migrants across the English Channel. He admitted to endangering others during a crossing from France and was handed a custodial sentence of two years and three months.
According to prosecutors, Atak steered a roughly 14-metre dinghy for at least 90 minutes on July 23 with approximately 165 people on board, including 31 children between ages 14 and 17. The vessel was one of two craft where individuals took turns piloting, and authorities found it lacked proper safety features, including navigation equipment and first-aid supplies. The boat was also deflating and taking on water when Border Force intercepted it. At the time of the crossing, this represented the largest recorded number of passengers on a single small boat crossing, though a vessel carrying 230 people subsequently surpassed this record in August.
Judge Sarah Counsell ruled that only an immediate custodial sentence was justified given the severity of the offense. The judge indicated Atak may face automatic deportation following completion of his sentence. Atak’s legal representative, Audrey Mogan, contended that no evidence demonstrated her client’s involvement in decisions regarding the vessel’s overcrowding or unsafe conditions, characterizing him as a young asylum seeker fleeing violence in his home country.
The prosecution represents the latest case under legislation introduced in January this year specifically designed to target boat operators. Earlier convictions under the new law occurred in June when an Afghan and a Sudanese national each received sentences exceeding two years for similar offenses. Government officials have emphasized the serious consequences for those piloting migrant boats, with Home Office representatives stating enforcement aims to deter the substantial numbers attempting Channel crossings annually. Recent government data indicates crossings since January have declined compared with the previous year, despite local protests regarding migrant boat arrivals occurring on England’s south coast earlier this month.
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