A GARDENER convicted of trying to smuggle three Albanian illegal immigrants from Ireland in a hired car through a Welsh ferry port was jailed for two years today (Friday, March 19).

Stuart Wilshire, 48, a married father-of-six said to be in poor health, of Chorley Green Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire, had been convicted by a jury of assisting unlawful immigration at Holyhead in June 2019.

Judge Nicola Jones told him at Caernarfon crown court: "This was clearly part of a commercial operation. I have no doubt you were not the brains behind this operation.”

She added: "There has to be a deterrent sentence.”