ILLEGAL immigrants found on a boat sailing past Margate and brought ashore at the town’s harbour were due to appear in court today.

The catamaran was towed into the harbour soon after 10pm on Friday and officers from Kent Police took everyone on the boat up to Margate Police Station.

Twelve of the 14 people on the sailing boat were found to be illegal immigrants and are in the care of HM immigration.

The other two were a 57-year-old German man and 26-year-old Germans woman. Both were arrested and charged with facilitating unlawful entry to a member state.