A mystery man has been jailed after attempting to enter Britain by swimming for 13 hours from France to Jersey.
The unidentified asylum seeker, who gave his name as David Henry Law, was rescued off the coast of Jersey on September 19, 2024, after shouting for help.
In an unusual attempt to prove his British citizenship, the man quoted William Shakespeare during interviews with authorities.
He has since been sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegally entering Jersey without permission.
The 35-year-old claimed to be a British citizen but had no documentation to verify his identity. He was rescued from Rozel Bay after three people heard him shouting for help from the beach.
He was wearing a wetsuit, swim cap, goggles and a belt bag when found. Emergency services brought him ashore before paramedics treated him and took him to the General Hospital.
Customs officials discovered he had only €265, a contact lenses case and a pair of glasses. He carried no identification or travel documentation that could prove his claimed British citizenship.
The man told authorities he had swum from an undisclosed French beach in an attempt to return home to London.
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During interviews, Law claimed he was born in London before being taken by his parents to India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar where he lived for at least 10 years.
When officials noted his accent, he dismissed this and insisted English was his first and only language. He then offered to quote Shakespeare to prove how British he was.
Law told authorities that swimming was a "better way" to travel to the UK than contacting an embassy.
Despite extensive investigations, no matches were found for his DNA or fingerprints, and he did not appear on any immigration databases. He gave no-comment answers when later interviewed under caution.
Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor argued there was a risk of Jersey being seen as a "back door" for entry into the UK.
The Royal Court agreed, stating the sentence should act as punishment and a deterrent to others considering the same journey.
The judge also recommended Law be deported, a decision now in the hands of the Justice and Home Affairs Minister. However, it remains unclear where he would be deported to given his unverified identity.
Law had claimed swimming was better than using an embassy as a "ticket office or charity", saying he wanted to do it the "hard way".
Speaking about the sentencing, a spokesman from the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service said: "This was a highly unusual case which has required detailed work over many months, from officers within the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service."
"Despite extensive investigations, the true identity of the individual is still unknown, and enquiries continue to be made to identify his identity and nationality."
"The deception used by the defendant was reflected in the sentence handed down by the Court."
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The unidentified asylum seeker, who gave his name as David Henry Law, was rescued off the coast of Jersey on September 19, 2024, after shouting for help.
In an unusual attempt to prove his British citizenship, the man quoted William Shakespeare during interviews with authorities.
He has since been sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegally entering Jersey without permission.
The 35-year-old claimed to be a British citizen but had no documentation to verify his identity. He was rescued from Rozel Bay after three people heard him shouting for help from the beach.
He was wearing a wetsuit, swim cap, goggles and a belt bag when found. Emergency services brought him ashore before paramedics treated him and took him to the General Hospital.
Customs officials discovered he had only €265, a contact lenses case and a pair of glasses. He carried no identification or travel documentation that could prove his claimed British citizenship.
The man told authorities he had swum from an undisclosed French beach in an attempt to return home to London.
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During interviews, Law claimed he was born in London before being taken by his parents to India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar where he lived for at least 10 years.
When officials noted his accent, he dismissed this and insisted English was his first and only language. He then offered to quote Shakespeare to prove how British he was.
Law told authorities that swimming was a "better way" to travel to the UK than contacting an embassy.
Despite extensive investigations, no matches were found for his DNA or fingerprints, and he did not appear on any immigration databases. He gave no-comment answers when later interviewed under caution.
Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor argued there was a risk of Jersey being seen as a "back door" for entry into the UK.
The Royal Court agreed, stating the sentence should act as punishment and a deterrent to others considering the same journey.
The judge also recommended Law be deported, a decision now in the hands of the Justice and Home Affairs Minister. However, it remains unclear where he would be deported to given his unverified identity.
Law had claimed swimming was better than using an embassy as a "ticket office or charity", saying he wanted to do it the "hard way".
Speaking about the sentencing, a spokesman from the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service said: "This was a highly unusual case which has required detailed work over many months, from officers within the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service."
"Despite extensive investigations, the true identity of the individual is still unknown, and enquiries continue to be made to identify his identity and nationality."
"The deception used by the defendant was reflected in the sentence handed down by the Court."
Find Out More...