Man ‘tried to smuggle wife into UK in suitcase’

A MAN was caught trying to smuggle his wife into Britain - in his suitcase.

Bogden Croitor's smuggling bid was uncovered during a routine stop-and-search on his car at the port of Dover. Picture: PA

Lithuanian Bogden Croitor, 30, was given permission to live in the UK but his Moldovian-born wife was twice refused the right to come here.

Customs officials did a routine stop and search on his car as he came through Dover last October and found his wife hiding in the bag.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN

• Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning

• You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google +

Croitor said he had been to Calais to spend the weekend with his wife and claimed she suggested hiding in the suitcase.

He was given a 14-month jail sentence suspended for two years at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Adele Williams said: “You could have absolutely no complaint if I had sent you to prison straight away because those who commit this offence normally always go to jail immediately.

“But I take the view that the way you committed this offence does have extraordinary mitigating circumstances attached to it.”

Natasha Spreadborough, defending, said Croitor’s wife had made numerous applications for a visa but had been refused each time.

Croiter, of Stanmore, London, was also given 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay £400 costs.

SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS

• Download your free 30-day trial for our iPad, Android and Kindle apps

• Keep up to date with all aspects of Scottish life with The Scotsman iPhone app, completely free to download and use