A jury has acquitted a man of a bomb hoax at Gatwick after a two-day trial at Brighton Crown Court which ended yesterday (Thursday 31 July).
Angelo Vences Franco, 38, of St Andrew’s Road, Ifield, Crawley, pleaded guilty to having a knife at the airport.
But he denied suggesting having an explosive substance in a bag that he had placed on a check-in desk – and after deliberating for an hour and 40 minutes, the jury cleared him
District Judge Vanessa Lloyd, sitting as a crown court judge, bailed Vences Franco until Monday 29 September when he is due to be sentenced for having a knife.
On Wednesday (30 July), Anthony Waller, prosecuting, said: “On Friday 1 December 2023 at 6.15am, the defendant was at Gatwick Airport trying to get on a flight to Texas, USA.
“He approached the check in desk and was asking to speak to one of the immigration colleagues.
“He did not have a valid ticket and was asked to show his passport.
“He kept saying he wanted to know the name of someone from immigration who he had previously been speaking to.
“He had two bags with him – a backpack and a larger camouflage bag.
“He kept saying he wanted to speak to someone and refused to hand his passport over until he had.
“The check-in employee Hilaria Fernandes asked him to step aside in order to allow other passengers to check in.
“He refused and then placed his baggage on the baggage belt and told her not to touch it or she would get hurt.
“He was asked to move his bag but he refused and this caused Ms Fernandes to be concerned as to what was in the bag.
“Another member of staff asked him to remove the bag but he refused and began to walk off towards the supervisor’s desk.
“He was spoken to by another Gatwick staff member Jordan Barnes who thought the defendant appeared irritable.
“Mr Barnes asked why he wouldn’t move his bag and the defendant replied that he had C4 in the bag. He then smiled and laughed.
“Mr Barnes was alarmed because C4 was understood by him to refer to a potential bomb.
“As this was deemed a threat, the police were called and arrested the defendant on suspicion of a bomb hoax.
“His property was scanned and searched and was declared safe.
“The defendant was taken into custody and interviewed. In answer to questions, he denied saying anything about C4.”
Marcia Hagon, of 4BB (formerly 4 Breams Buildings), defended Vences Franco.
