British Mother Who Tried To Smuggle Her Children Into UK On A Rubber Dinghy Walks Free
A British mother who spent years on the run with her two children before washing up in an inflatable dinghy on the island of Jersey has walked free from court.
Teacher Lauren Etchells fled Canada with her young children after the breakdown of her relationship with ex-wife Tasha Brown, and the issuing of a Canadian court order.
She headed for Europe with her new partner Marco van der Merwe, who is believed to have been the sperm donor for one of the children, evading capture for three years despite Interpol issuing a Red Notice.
Her travels took her to France, the Netherlands, the Middle East and possibly to Spain and Portugal, police said.
The mother-of-two was finally caught after arriving in Jersey with her parents in July 2019 in a 13ft inflatable dinghy – despite their subsequent attempts to deceive immigration staff.
Etchells, 34, appeared alongside parents Brian Etchells and Angela Hardy, both 68, for sentencing on Monday at Jersey Magistrates’ Court.
All three had pleaded guilty to making a false representation under immigration law.
Lauren Etchells was convicted after a four-day trial at the same court in December of two charges of exposing a child to risk of harm.
Her parents were convicted of two charges of aiding and abetting exposing a child to risk of harm.
Assistant magistrate Peter Harris said: “These were rather unique circumstances which are unlikely to be repeated.
“Together they were using Jersey in an attempt to avoid compliance with a Canadian court order.”
He acknowledged the efforts made to reduce the risk of harm to the children, and that no harm was actually sustained.
But he added: “The waters around Jersey can be very dangerous.
“Both children were exposed to a risk of harm.”
Harris told the defendants that he viewed their conduct as “to all intents and purposes of an equal nature”.
They were each given six-month prison sentences, suspended for 12 months, and fined £500.
They must also pay costs of £1,600 between them.
Prosecutor...