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Airport worker jailed after duty free scam
By Richard PainDecember 09, 2011
AN airport worker from Farnborough who stole more than £16,000 pounds worth of duty free items to sell in a pub was jailed on Monday.
John Hedley, 60, was responsible for stocking duty free trollies on board planes at Heathrow Airport but instead helped himself to the goods.
Along with London man John Chrystie, 62, he smuggled out jewellery, perfume and watches without paying for them and sold some of the luxury items in a nearby pub.
The thieving pair were jailed for a year at Isleworth Crown Court for conspiracy to steal.
Detective Sergeant Bob Cawley said: “The individuals used their line of work to exploit airlines and steal from them in a calculated manner. The scope of this investigation was vast and required hours of covert operations to build a solid case to bring before the courts.
“Today’s sentences act as a stark reminder that those involved in airport theft, regardless of whether they have stolen or bought goods, will be detected and dealt with.”
The aircraft loaders would take duty free trollies by van to planes parked on the runway before taking cut-price goods on board for sale mid-flight.
However, they took advantage of the privacy of their van and stowed thousands of pounds worth of the valuable accessories before delivering the stock.
The pair then smuggled their loot out of the site and much of the desirable stolen property was sold in the Three Crowns pub, just a few streets away, in Stanwell, Middlesex.
Chrystie was arrested alongside a third man, David Peacock, aged 59 years, during an evening shift on November 26 last year.
Police found £9,500 pounds of stolen duty free stashed in Chrystie’s car, which was parked in the pub car park, on the same night.
The drinking den was raided on December 6 and more stolen goods were found.
Police eventually arrested a further four people for a string of theft-related offences.
Hedley, of Austen Road, Farnborough, and Chrystie, of Batman Close, Shepherds Bush, west London, admitted conspiracy to steal £16,144 pounds worth of duty free and were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.
Peacock, of Foxley Close, Blackwater, Surrey, was handed an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months and 75 hours community service for aiding and abetting theft.
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