Thieves who audaciously snatched £4,000 worth of sheet metal vital to fire safety at Biggin Hill Airport were involved in a high-speed chase with security, a court heard this week.
After smashing through a temporary perimeter fence they began loading the metal – which has a high scrap value – onto the back a flat bed truck then sped away through narrow country lanes.
Jack Haycraft, 22, of Lullingstone Avenue, Swanley, Kent was found not guilty at Croydon Crown Court today (Wednesday) to stealing fire training equipment from the airport on April 6.
His alleged accomplices Robert Simpson, 21, of Ronfearn Avenue, St. Mary Cray and 19 year-old Joe Simpson of Mells Crescent, Mottingham admitted the theft and were sentenced at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Mr. Geoff Gelbart told the jury at was 11am when a female security guard caught the trio in a restricted area only 100 yards from where aircrafts taxi to and from the runway (pictured).
She immediately radioed security and alerted police.
“Their attitude changed sharply and they said: ‘We don’t want the fucking police here. Why are you calling the police?” explained the prosecutor.
“Access to this area had been through a temporary security fence. That fence had been damaged as if someone had smashed through it.”
The airport says £500 worth of damage was caused.
A second security guard tried to head the truck off in his 4x4, but had to give up.
“The truck sped off at high speed in a dangerous manner,” Mr. Gelbart told the jury. “The roads around Biggin Hill tend to be narrow country lanes used by farmers, walkers and locals.”
The truck, driven by Robert Simpson, collided with hedgerows, smashing off his wing mirror and nearly had a head-on collision with an oncoming motorist.
“A Mercedes was coming in the opposite direction and he took a gap that did not exist, scraping the hedge and the side of the Mercedes.
Police intercepted the truck on the A21 at the Farnborough Hill roundabout and arrested the three defendants, recovering the stolen metal.
When quizzed by officers Haycraft told them: “I havn’t stolen anything.”
He claimed he innocently agreed to some labouring work and thought he was on an industrial estate when loading the sheet metal.
Haycraft, a type one diabetic, told the jury a lack of insulin caused him to feel “unwell and dizzy” at the time.
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