THE South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) has released custody pictures for the three Isle of Wight men jailed for people smuggling earlier today (Friday).

Self-styled "Lord" Stephen Redhead, 47, of Horsebridge Hill, Newport, was given five years behind bars for his role.

He and Christopher Barber, 55, of Landguard Road, Shanklin, were found guilty by a unanimous jury of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non EU person, contrary to the Immigration Act.

Barber was jailed for three years, and co-accused Jean Pierre Labelle sentenced to eight years in jail.

Their convictions followed a seven day trial at the Portsmouth court earlier this month.

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Reacting to the convictions, senior investigating officer, Clair Trueman, of SEROCU, said: “Redhead, Barber and Labelle have been sentenced to substantial prison sentences for their parts in smuggling people in to the country.

“This concludes a detailed investigation into organised immigration crime by the South East Regional Oganised Crime Unit with the support of the National Crime Agency, UK Border Force and French authorities.

“The consequences of people entering the country illegally are never far from news headlines – often with all too familiar tragic headlines.

"While on this initial occasion, 12 people did arrive in the UK without incident, they are believed to have entered the country illegally and have subsequently disappeared without trace.

“The sentences issued recognise the gravity of the offence and we will continue our work to target those who bring people in to the country illegally, taking gambles with the lives of fellow human beings, in order to profit.”

NCA regional head of Iinvestigations, Peter Stevens, said: “People smugglers risk lives for the sole aim of profit, and these men were no different.

"This is why we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle the organised criminal gangs involved, along every step of the route.

"I’m delighted that through joint working with the NCA, SEROCU and the French authorities, we have been able to put a stop to this criminal enterprise and secure these convictions.”