Gatwick hoax man pleads guilty

01/06/2009

A man has admitted to sending bomb hoaxes and other threatening messages to Gatwick Airport.

Gary Collins, 57, said that he was behind several ploys since October 2005, including sending envelopes marked "anthrax" to the travel hub.

The Crawley resident pleaded guilty to 34 counts of communicating false information in front of Lewes Crown Court.

Prosecutor Amy Packham commented: "All the charges relate to Gatwick Airport either as bomb hoaxes or sending substances marked as anthrax or bio-material."

Mr Collins has been released on bail and is to be sentenced next month.

In other airport news, budget carrier easyJet will not be permitted to offer marriage ceremonies on its services from Luton Airport.

Luton Borough Council has stated that a civil partnership cannot lawfully take place on an aircraft after the airline applied for its pilots to be allowed to head wedding ceremonies in the air.