A Sudanese migrant who disguised himself by changing clothes after steering a small boat across the Channel has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Daniel Malual, 24, was observed piloting a dinghy filled with asylum seekers by Border Force patrols on September 21, 2024. After reaching the UK, Malual reportedly changed his clothes to avoid being identified as the boat’s helmsman and mingled with other passengers.

Malual, who traveled with his wife and young child, claimed he changed his clothes because they were wet. However, this tactic failed to evade authorities, and he was later arrested at a hotel in North Yorkshire on November 12, 2024.

During questioning by Border Force officials, Malual stated he fled Sudan in 2020 due to “political difficulties.” He explained that he traveled through Italy, Libya, and France before arranging the dangerous journey to the UK, adding that he did not feel “comfortable in other countries.

Court Proceedings

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court, Malual pleaded guilty to attempting to enter the UK without valid entry clearance. His defense counsel, Daniel Carmichael, emphasized that Malual had no prior convictions and had been waiting for a scheduled Home Office phone interview on January 17, which was canceled due to his remand at Holme House Prison.

In sentencing, Judge Jonathan Carroll highlighted Malual’s deliberate actions to circumvent the legal asylum process:

“You arrived by crossing the Channel in a dinghy boat loaded with other potential asylum claimants. You piloted the boat, fully aware of the consequences of being identified as the pilot. After reaching the UK, you changed your clothes and mingled with others to avoid detection.

“There are a series of countries where you could have claimed asylum, yet you chose to enter the UK illegally, bringing your partner and child with you, in complete disregard for the asylum rules.”

Malual was sentenced to 12 months in prison, half of which he will serve before being released on license.

Broader Context

The case underscores ongoing challenges surrounding illegal migration across the Channel, with UK authorities focusing on deterring small boat crossings.

The Home Office has been approached for comment on the matter.