Two Iraqi men in court accused of illegally entering UK

Two men have appeared at Plymouth Crown Court accused of illegally entering into the UK. Last month DevonLive reported how nine men were brought to shore early on September 17 after getting into trouble in a boat off Torbay. The boat, which got into difficulties off Berry Head, was brought in by the RNLI and the Home Office later said all nine men on board were Iraqi nationals.

Devon and Cornwall Police later confirmed they were called to the scene at 5.40am that morning. It was reported that those on board the vessel included a mix of adults and children.

Witnesses reported seeing a large police and border force presence as the yacht was brought to shore. The ambulance service and HM Coastguard were also present.

At the time a spokesperson for the Home Office said that their cases would be "dealt with according to immigration rules".

Two men - Rasty Hassan and Mohamed Bedah - both appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday [October 21] via video link to a prison where they both faced the charge of attempting to arrive in the UK without a valid entry clearance.

Bedah, aged 38 and of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Hassan, aged 26 and also of no fixed abode, attempted to offer a plea but Recorder Mrs Chloe Pawson-Pounds urged him to seek legal advice before she would accept any pleas.

Both men were remanded into custody and will next appear for a hearing on November 19. A trial date has been set for March 19, 2025.

Click here to join PlymouthLive on WhatsApp and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.