On February 5, 2004, Lin Liangren, a gang-master of illegal Chinese labourers, left the workers in the treacherous Morecambe Bay so they could continue to harvest cockles.
As darkness fell the labourers from Fujian and Liaoning provinces, couldn’t run back to shore before the icy tide raced in around them.
Judge Richard Henriques described Lin's conduct leading up to and on the night of the tragedy as "truly shocking", adding he was motivated by "greed". He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years jail time.
Lin's girlfriend Zhao Xiaoqing, 21, who acted as his translator, was jailed for two years and nine months for perverting the course of justice. She was also convicted for facilitation for helping illegal immigrants to break the law.
A third person, Lin Muyong, 31, Lin Liangren's cousin, was sentenced to a total of four years and nine months in prison for his part in the illegal migrant labour scheme.
The judge recommended deportation for all three once their sentences had been served.
Human trade
The police detective who investigated the case said he was “delighted” to see Lin locked up but warned that a "virtual slave trade" of illegal immigrants was operating in Britain.
Lancashire Police's Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell said there was far too little awareness of just how badly illegal immigrants are being treated in the United Kingdom.
"I hope a wider message goes out, not just to do with cockling but anywhere where illegal immigrants are exploited," Mr Gradwell told AFP at Preston Crown Court.
Mr Gradwell said that these migrants were working and living in appalling conditions. "They really couldn't speak the language, didn't know where they were, they were living 10 to a room in appalling houses with little heating."
"We ask people to learn and take their part in preventing this happening," he said adding that prostitution was also an ever-widening trap for illegal immigrants.
The case evoked memories of the 58 Chinese illegal immigrants who suffocated to death in the back of a truck entering Britain in 2000.
Callous exploitation: Judge
Judge Richard Henriques told Lin: "I detected not a flicker of remorse, even sadness for what occurred and entirely no apology."
"You cynically and callously exploited your fellow countrymen and women. You provided dreadful living conditions," he said.
He said Lin tried to evade justice by telling authorities a series of "spectacular lies" and the court heard Lin Liangren could face execution if he is tried and convicted again in China.
An enraged Li Hua, the only cockler to be rescued alive, told the court, "I hate him. For his own profit he caused so many people to lose their lives," he said.
Before the trial started Lin Liangren said he was not responsible for their deaths and insisted there was nothing he could have done to save his workers' lives.