Moment Channel trawler is driven erratically in circles after Sudanese national steals it to 'go and collect his family from France' - as he is jailed
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CCTV footage shows the moment an immigrant stole a fishing boat while its crew was still on board to try and sail to France to 'collect his family'.
The video depicts the aftermath of Sudanese national Bilal Adam boarding the shellfish trawler and sailing it away in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Adam sent the 100-ton vessel surging forward from its mooring in Ramsgate, Kent, and the vessel – named 'Carousel' – then erratically turned in circles within the harbour walls.
Disaster was only averted thanks to the quick-thinking of a crewmember, who was woken from his bunk at 3am by the sound of the boat's engine.
Adam appeared at Margate magistrates' court on Wednesday which heard Adam had threatened the crewman and looked as if he 'wanted to kill [him]'.
Demanding to 'take the boat to France', Adam allegedly pulled up the waist of his clothing as if he were reaching for a knife.
But, in court, Adam claimed it was a misunderstanding.
Defending himself, he told magistrates: 'This is traditional dress. I cannot walk unless I pull it up.
CCTV footage shows the moment an immigrant stole a fishing boat while its crew was still on board to try and sail to France to 'collect his family'
Police pictured at the scene in Ramsgate Royal Harbour in the early hours of Tuesday
'I never intentionally harmed someone and never threatened the guy.
'I never wanted to put their life in danger.'
Even after the boat was brought back to harbour and Adam disembarked, he continued looking for vessels he could use to escape the country, the court heard.
Prosecutor Lucie Fish said Adam was in such a hurry to leave that 'he didn't want to wait the 14 weeks that was necessary to get funded travel'.
Adam admitted taking a 'mechanically-propelled vehicle without consent, which was aggravated by damage caused'.
However, he disputed the extent to which the vessel was damaged.
'I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for this mistake,' he said.
'I didn't drive it for that long to cause much damage.'
The trawler is co-owned by Lynn Shellfish, a third-generation wholesaler based in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Skipper Olly Swift described on Tuesday how the boat intruder had ordered the crew to 'take him to France to collect his family'.
Damage was estimated at almost £90,000, including costly damage to the boat's gearbox.
Adam, 30, was given an immediate sentence of eight months' custody after magistrates found there was a risk he would continue to try and leave the country by illegal means.
The man, who told the court he had been in Britain for more than 11 years, was also disqualified from driving any vehicle for a year.
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