A homeless chef has been locked up after using Gatwick Airport as his home for THREE years - just like the character Tom Hanks played in the hit film The Terminal.
Anthony Delaney ate, showered and slept at the busy airport, brushing off security staff who stopped him more than 30 times.
In the film The Terminal, Tom Hanks plays an Eastern European tourist who becomes a resident of New York airport when a war breaks out and erases his country from the map, voiding his passport.
Homeless: Anthony Delaney lived in Gatwick Airport for three years like the character Tom Hanks played in the film The Terminal
Delaney hid away at the airport because it ensured he stayed "clean, dry and warm".
He rarely left the busy south terminal - and only did so occasionally to collect his Jobseeker's Allowance, the court was told.
In scenes reminiscent of the Steven Spielberg movie, Delaney passed his days watching holidaymakers and airline staff going about their business.
A court was told he did not suffer mental health problems, was neither a drug nor alcohol addict, and did not cause "a stink".
But Judge Richard Hayward remanded him in custody for sentence, believing his urge to return to Gatwick would be too strong should he be released.
He said: "It is a bit cheeky to go straight back to Gatwick. There are other places you can have a shower. This is just going on and on. It is all very strange."
Sitting room: Homeless chef Anthony Delaney used the airport as his home and the waiting areas as his living areas
Lewes Crown Court was told that Delaney had repeatedly defied an Asbo.
Even when he was jailed for breaching his Asbo, he returned to the airport as soon as he was released.
Delaney admitted breaching his order for the third time.
The court heard Delaney was sentenced to 95 days in prison for the last breach when he appeared at the same court on January 10.
Because he had spent time behind bars on remand waiting for his court appearance, he was released immediately.
Delaney then made his way back to the airport, where he was arrested in the south terminal later the same day.
Sarah Lindop, prosecuting, told the court the Asbo was imposed in 2006 and remains in force until 2011.
The order prohibits him from entering the airport or its railway station.
Delaney first started living at the airport in 2004 and since February that year he has been stopped by security staff more than 30 times.
Under airport authority bylaws, Delaney was officially banned in March 2005, but he continued to return. The Asbo was imposed the following year.
Peter Knight, defending, said Delaney has been staying at the airport because he wanted to stay clean, dry and warm.
He said Delaney was only looking for shelter and did not cause trouble.
He said: "It is not a situation where he goes to the airport and causes a stink."
"He is not there to cause problems at all. He is just simply there and is asked to leave on numerous occasions.
"The Asbo was put in place because he was using the airport as a residence."
Mr Knight said Delaney's problems started in 2004 when he lost his job in Buckinghamshire as a chef along with his accommodation.
He headed back to Sussex where he had previously lived in order to find work, but when he was unable to find a job he started using the airport as a place to stay.
In November last year, he bought a sleeping bag and tent but it was burned down and Delaney has not been able to buy replacements.
He said: "It is an offence borne out of desperation. He does not want to continue living like this."
Judge Hayward told Delaney he needed help to break the cycle of returning to the airport.
The judge adjourned sentence for pre-sentence reports in order for the probation service to try to offer help. But he told Delaney he was not releasing him on bail.
He said: "If I give you bail, you have nowhere to go and the temptation to end up back at Gatwick would be overwhelming."
Delaney was remanded in custody until March 10.
Paul Young, founder of Brighton-based homeless charity Off The Fence, said: "It's a sad situation when someone feels sleeping in an airport is the only option.
"However, it is understandable when the weather is so cold on the streets."
"I'm surprised he got away with it for so long. He almost has squatters' rights after that length of time."
A spokeswoman for Gatwick airport declined to comment.
Source: Daily Mail UK, Feb. 19, 2008
Homeless chef lived in Gatwick airport for three years - only leaving to pick up his dole money 
Re: Homeless chef lived in Gatwick airport for three years - only leaving to pick up his dole money 
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