Southend illegal immigrant called police on crime gang

Klejvis Plangaj, 36, was trafficked to England by people smugglers as he sought to reunite with his mother, father and wife, all of whom have settled status in the UK.

But when he arrived, Basildon Crown Court heard, he was told he had to work off his debt to the organised crime gang.

“He was recruited into what we now accept was exploitation,” said prosecutor Peter Gair. “He called the police seeking sanctuary.”

Defence barrister Elspeth Windsor said he was only in the country for five or six days before calling police.

“Professionally, I need to manage my submissions delicately because it is right to say that Mr Plangaj is nothing short of terrified of what consequences there may be for his family based on the information shared with the court today,” she said.

“Mr Plangaj has been clear in his conference with me just now that as soon as he was brought into the country illegally, events overtook him.”

He was taken to an “isolated” property in Bournemouth Park Road, surrounded by barbed wire, and “was physically chained in”.

“Recognising the danger he was in, he contacted the police straight away,” Mrs Windsor added.

“Your Honour may or may not have seen the body worn video of officers attending, but he is afraid.”

The court was told it was the second time Plangaj had fallen victim to such circumstances.

In 2017, he was convicted of being involved in cannabis cultivation. He was deported in spring 2018 and made subject to an indefinite order barring his return.

Meanwhile, his relatives remained in Britain.

“This is somebody trying to reunite with his family,” said Mrs Windsor.

Despite calling police to blow the whistle on the Essex plantation, he was prosecuted for returning to England illegally.

“If you put yourself in the hands of people who traffic, there may be consequences,” said Judge Shane Collery KC. “The reality is that you put your neck in that noose.”

He sentenced PLangaj to 18 months in prison.

“That should then make you subject to automatic deportation but I can add as well that the court sees no reason why you should not be deported,” he said.

“Indeed, the court recommends you are deported from this this country. You simply can’t keep seeking to come to this country when it has made clear that it does not want you.”