A people smuggler who went on the run for nearly three years has been caught and jailed.

Terence McVarnock, who brought in four Albanians through Dover, jumped bail in 2015, was finally found last week and now jailed for at total 34 months.

McVarnock, a lorry driver, was stopped by Border Force officers on July 28, 2015 at the freight lanes, Dover Eastern Docks after arriving on a ferry from Calais.

A search of the driver’s cabin area revealed a child in the lower bunk area covered by a duvet. Another child and a man and woman were also discovered hidden in the bunk area.

McVarnock was taken to Folkestone Police station and during interview denied any knowledge of the people hidden in his lorry.

A further search of the vehicle revealed £2,800 hidden behind the dashboard stereo, and which McVarnock claimed was his life savings as he does not use banks.

The money was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

That was done through a confiscation hearing at Folkestone Magistrates Court the day after McVarnock was stopped.

The investigation was passed to Immigration Enforcement's Criminal and Financial Investigation team and McVarnock was charged with assisting unlawful immigration into the UK.

He was bailed to appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court on September 7, 2015, where he pleaded not guilty.

He was further bailed to appear at Canterbury Crown Court that November 23 but failed to attend and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

While on the run McVarnock, from Northern Ireland, changed his name by Deed Poll to Brody and frequently changed his rented accommodation and vehicles.

The CFI, trawling public records and social media sites, found that McVarnock was living at an address in Glenavy in Co. Antrim and was arrested there last Wednesday.

The swoop was carried out with the help of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

McVarnock, 50, of Tullynewbank Road, Glenavy, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on last Friday where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 28 months for facilitating illegal immigration.

He was also given a consecutive six month sentence for bail offences.

Dave Magrath, from CFI , said after the hearing: “Although McVarnock took extreme measures to avoid facing up to his crimes, in the end the law caught up with him and he’s paying the price with his liberty.

“We work closely with Border Force colleagues and law enforcement such as the PSNI, to rigorously investigate allegations of immigration related criminality and this case should serve as a warning to anyone tempted to get involved with this kind of offending. We will catch you, however long this takes, and put you before the courts.”

Paul Morgan, Director of Border Force South East and Europe added: “The Adults and minors were concealed in a cramped and uncomfortable section of the driver’s cab.

“People smugglers care little about the conditions in which they transport their human cargo, often putting the lives of others at risk.”

• Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the website crimestoppers-uk.org