Gatwick duty-free thieves sent to prison

News at Gatwick 20/09/2010

Flight punctuality drops at UK airports : September 2010 : Airlines face new problem over seat safety

Two Gatwick Airport workers convicted of stealing duty-free goods have been jailed.

Two Gatwick Airport workers who exploited their position to steal thousands of pounds in duty-free goods have been jailed. Jason Bell, 32, of Norfolk Road in Horsham, and Nigel Thorpe, 42, of Horsham Close in Brighton, were convicted over thefts that took place over a period of two years.

The two were found guilty in Lewes Crown Court. Both were ordered to go to prison and repay thousands of pounds in proceeds from the thefts. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Bell has been ordered to repay £18,600 and Thorpe must repay £157,411. Bell has been given 28 days to make the payment and Thorpe has six months. Bell is being sent to prison for 18 months and Thorpe has been handed a two-year jail term.

The two pleaded guilty to a total of six charges of money laundering and theft. The two worked for LSG Sky Chefs at Gatwick. Bell worked as a driver and Thorpe was employed as a loader. Their work involved moving duty-free goods between the bonded warehouse and aircraft. They were arrested as a result of a police investigation arising from a 2006 complaint that more than 70 cartons of cigarettes had been stolen from a First Choice flight in 2006.

Flight punctuality drops at UK airports : September 2010 : Airlines face new problem over seat safety

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