A former soldier faces jail in France after he tried to smuggle a four-year-old girl out of Calais's notorious 'Jungle' camp

A former soldier faces jail in France after he tried to smuggle a four-year-old girl out of Calais's notorious 'Jungle' camp in what he says was a 'crime of compassion'.

Rob Lawrie, from Guiseley, West Yorkshire, attempted to bring Afghan youngster Bahar Ahmadi back to Britain in his van after delivering supplies to the migrant camp.

The 49-year-old was hoping to take the little girl to her relatives who are living in Leeds, but was stopped on the border and charged with aiding illegal immigration.

He now faces up to five years in jail when he comes before a French court, but says he is more concerned for Bahar, who has been returned to the 'Jungle'.

Mr Lawire says he is more concerned about the safety of the youngster than he is about his potential jail term

Mr Lawrie decided to take supplies to the camp in Calais after seeing pictures of Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, who died when his boat capsized off the coast of Turkey.

He met little Bahar while working in the Jungle and her father pleaded with him to take her back to Britain rather than allow her to remain in the squalid conditions of the roadside camp.

It is understood the girl's mother is still in Afghanistan, but she has some relatives settled in Yorkshire

Source: Daily Mail