TWO Albanian nationals who were caught transporting fellow illegal immigrants across the country will be deported from the UK.

Police discovered the group by chance after pulling over a speeding car on the motorway near Lymm.

Driver Daniel Peci and Altin Sherri, who was involved in arranging the plot, were handed jail sentences at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, February 18.

The court heard that officers stopped a Mercedes at junction nine of the M56 on August 6 2019.

Both defendants were inside the vehicle, as were Sherri’s brother and cousin and a third unrelated Albanian man.

They had earlier picked this trio up from a car park in Liverpool, and were believed to have been driving them to London.

Peci – who claimed he did not know the immigration status of his passengers and was ‘just doing a favour for a friend’ – was in possession of a Greek ID card with a false name, while Sherri was carrying a fake Greek driving licence.

Trained welder Sherri, who had first entered the country earlier in 2019, admitted immigration offences and possession of false identification and was handed 28 months behind bars.

Meanwhile, Peci was convicted of immigration offences after a one-day trial but admitted possession of false identification and was handed a three-year imprisonment.

The pair – who were assisted in court by an interpreter – have already served around 18 months in custody, and will therefore be released from prison in the near future.

But they are likely to be deported in the coming weeks.

Sentencing, judge Patrick Thompson said: “Daniel Peci, you were convicted by a jury in the face of overwhelming evidence.

“Altin Sherri, you entered a late guilty plea.

“It seems to me that both of you had no right to be in the country in the first place.

“You were using the opportunity on this day to assist with the unlawful transportation of three other Albanian nationals, two of whom were relatives of yours Mr Sherri.

“It’s clear to me that you were in possession of false identification documents and your intention was to mislead the authorities and remain in the country illegally.

“Bearing in mind the time each of you has spent on remand, your sentences have effectively been served – but you will not be released.

“The authorities already have in motion the mechanisms to deport you, you will not be released into the public.”

Forfeiture of the car was also ordered, while Peci and Sherri were told to pay victim surcharges.