BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, France -- A French court has convicted a British ex-soldier of endangerment for trying to sneak a 4-year-old Afghan girl into Britain, but dropped a tougher smuggling charge and handed him a suspended fine.
French court convicts Briton of endangering migrant girl he tried to rescue; he avoids prison - @AP— Mashable News (@MashableNews) January 14, 2016
The conviction Thursday appeared to be a symbolic punishment and a victory for Rob Lawrie, who apologized for what he called an "irrational" move.
"Don't do it - learn from my lesson." Rob Lawrie's advice to volunteers thinking of bringing refugee children to UK https://t.co/UK7sFydlEV— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 14, 2016
He wasn't sentenced to prison, but was given a suspended €1,000 ($1,090) fine. That means he doesn't have to pay the money, but it goes on his criminal record in France.
Rob Lawrie after being released with a suspended sentence. He admitted trying to smuggle an Afghan girl into UK. pic.twitter.com/vWUt08IL8e— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) January 14, 2016
Lawrie, who has been volunteering with migrants in Calais, was caught in October trying to take the girl to relatives in Britain, at her father's request.