Homeless Gatwick dweller faces jail
28.03.09
A homeless man who made Gatwick his home for five years faces jail after returning to the airport in breach of a court order. Anthony Delaney was given as ASBO banning him from Gatwick in 2006. The 44-year old appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with breaching the order for the fifth time.
The court heard Mr Delaney had been jailed for previous breaches but chose to go to the airport last Wednesday. Defending him, Geoff White, said: ‘This was unbelievably foolish. Mr Delaney is an unusual man who takes unusual decisions. This is probably the most foolish I have ever seen.’
The court heard that Mr Delaney was spotted by police on a moving walkway in the south terminal, where he lived during his years at Gatwick. Prosecutor Richard Lynn said officers approached him and he said: ‘Just arrest me then.’ He admitted breaching the ASBO and visiting the airport when banned at a hearing last Thursday.
Mr White said his client had passed through the airport on his way back to his new home in Woking after visiting friends in Crawley. He Said: ‘He finally has an address. If he goes into custody that accommodation is at risk. He has lived at Gatwick for more than 5 years in real terms but things have changed and this ASBO has come back to bite him. I am going to ask you to take a very lenient view indeed.’
But the magistrates were unmoved and sent Delaney to Lewes Crown Court for sentencing, where a judge can jail him for longer than the six month maximum available to magistrates. He will be sentenced at Lewes on a date to be confirmed.
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