A MINICAB driver accused of helping to smuggle Chinese immigrants into Britain has told a court he would never be involved with “something dodgy”.

Kenan Giltas, 41, was allegedly the “runner” for one of the ringleaders of the trafficking ring, which allegedly included a former Kidderminster man.

Over 11 months it is claimed the gang charged vulnerable immigrants thousands of pounds to be brought across the Channel, herded on to the backs of lorries and car boots.

Yesterday, however, the Turkish cab driver claimed he was just doing “private jobs” for his friend and fellow countryman, Inan Taskin, 30.

Southwark Crown Court has heard the criminal operation was organised by Chinese mastermind, Chun Yu, 22, known as “Shrimp” to his associates.

Yu has already admitted recruiting a gang of Turkish heavies to transport the illegals into the UK via France and Belgium.

Giltas and his co-defendant, John Ashcroft, 60, formerley of Chester Road, Kidderminster, deny being a part of the “large scale” trafficking ring.

The court heard Giltas and Yu were under surveillance when they were filmed picking up an illegal immigrant in Dover on June 26 last year.

Giltas, who was working for Golden Cars, in Haringey, North London, said he was told to pick up Yu from Manor House Tube station at midnight by Taskin, who has also confessed to the conspiracy.

“When Yu got into the car, he said we were going to Dartford,” Giltas said. “He said we were going there to pick up his friend.

“He went to sleep and I woke him up when we got to Dartford,but he said to me ‘not Dartford we are going to Dover, Dover, Dover’ - he said it three times.”

The defendant said when they arrived he was told to pull into a dark side road. “He (Yu) said stop, so I stopped,” Giltas explained.

“At that moment he jumps out of the car, I just thought he was going for a p**s or something. He told me to do a U-turn so I did and then two people jumped in. I was totally surprised.”

Defence counsel, Steven Waters, asked his client: “You now know in the context of this case that the person you were collecting must have been an illegal immigrant. When you drove to Dover did you know that?”

Giltas replied: “No. I wouldn't have driven there if I knew this.” He added that he realised they were doing “something very, very bad”.

The court heard Giltas was also seen picking up £2,000 in cash from “Shrimp” for his co-conspirator, Taskin. But the cabbie said he later cut off all contact with Taskin. Giltas said: “He was using me for stupid things.”

Jurors have heard the smuggling ring was cracked following a nine-month investigation by New Scotland Yard's specialist crime directorate, which focused on Yu and Taskin.

Undercover police watched immigrants being smuggled into the UK on 27 separate occasions, the court has heard.

The investigation stretched into France after intercepted telephone conversations indicated more men were involved across the Channel.

Following Giltas's arrest on January 31 of this year he read a statement to police denying all involvement. He said: “I was a minicab driver and used to do private jobs for my friend, Inan Taskin, last year.

“I no longer associate with Inan Taskin because I thought I didn't want to do anything dodgy because I had a suspicion it might be unlawful.”

During his interviews Giltas told police: “I did do jobs for him but then I understood it was not right and stopped doing it.”

The jury has been told that Yu, himself an illegal immigrant, worked closely with a man called Xun Zheng, who has since skipped bail.

Fellow smugglers, Kazim Karakus, 45, Zeynel Yazici, 49 and Yakup Aslan, 38, admitted to the conspiracy between April 1, 2007 and February 1 this year.

Seven men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will face trial next year and three others are being held by French authorities.

Ashcroft, now of Koksijde, in Belgium and Giltas, of Alma Road, Enfield, North London, deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Yu, of Peckham High Street, Peckham, South East London, Taskin, of Bruce Grove, Tottenham, North London, Yazici, of Connaught Gardens, Palmers Green, North London and Yakup Aslan, of no fixed address, have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy.

They will be sentenced at a later date.

The trial continues.