The man found guilty on 21 counts of manslaughter after his workers drowned at Morecambe Bay in 2004, has today been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Judge at Preston Crown Court.

Lin Liang Ren, 29, left his workers on the beach as the tide rose, then fled for his own safety, the jury heard. After a seven-month trial he was convicted of perverting the course of justice by lying to police after his arrest and breaking immigration law by employing illegals. His girlfriend Zhao Xiao Qing and cousin Lin Mu Yong were also convicted of helping cocklers to break immigration laws. Zhao Xiao Qing, 21, was sentenced to two years and nine months and will be deported as well.