TWO Shanklin men — one being well known property developer Lord Stephen Kelvin Redhead — accused of bringing non-EU migrants into the UK illegally by yacht, appeared before an Isle of Wight Crown Court judge.

Christopher Jason Barber, of Landguard Road, denied an offence under the Immigration Act 1971, of conspiracy to facilitate unlawful entry of non-European Union citizens into the UK, with accomplices, between January 1 and June 30 last year.

The 54-year-old was bailed to appear for trial, predicted to last eight days, at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 28 next year.

Lord Redhead, 47, of High Street, made an application, through his barrister William Chipperfield, to have the case against him dismissed.

He was bailed to reappear for a dismissal hearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on September 2.

Jean-Pierre Labelle, 44, failed to appear by video link from HMP Lewes, so has yet to face the same indictment as Mr Barber.

A date for the former Ryde man, to reappear for a plea and case management hearing, has yet to be fixed and he remains in custody.

Should Lord Redhead's dismissal case fail, he too will have to face the same indictment.

The charges relate to an investigation carried out by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).

The organisation says, between March 17 and 19 last year, illegal migrants were brought into the UK via a yacht.

Then between June 26 and 27, illegal migrants were being brought to the UK via a small boat across the English Channel, but were intercepted by French authorities after a joint operation with SEROCU, the National Crime Agency and French authorities.