To the millions of other people flying out of Gatwick, Anthony Delaney was just another passenger waiting for a delayed flight.
But for the unemployed former top chef, the airport was the place that he ate, showered and slept – for three years.
Speaking for the first time about his struggle to survive – and not get caught – Anthony reveals how he was forced to find shelter after losing his £80,000-a-year job and luxury seaside apartment.
And he claims there are up to 30 other “permanently delayed passengers” who have made Gatwick their home – including one man who has been there for eight years.
Though the story may echo hit film The Terminal, in which Tom Hanks plays an immigrant stranded at New York's JFK, any other similarities with the romantic comedy stop fast.
Homeless: Anthony Delaney slept, ate and showered at Gatwick for three years
Claiming £118 a fortnight in benefits, Antony survived on cheap sandwiches and food voucher handouts from genuinely delayed passengers.
He slept in disabled toilets and spied on staff to find out the security code for the showers.
And he dodged armed police with sniffer dogs by learning their patrol routine.
Anthony's story came to light last week when he was in court for breaching an Asbo banning him from the airport.
After spending 50 days in custody, he is now free after the judge delayed sentencing until August.
Anthony told The Sun how he sought refuge after mental health problems led him to throw away his well-paid career catering for celebrity events and training other chefs.
“In 2004 I fell on bad times,” he said. “I lost my driving licence and couldn't get to work or pay my mortgage and got my two-bedroom flat near Brighton repossessed.
“Suddenly I was homeless but I knew I couldn't resort to sleeping in doorways. I'm a proud man.
“I'd gone to the airport before for short periods when I had nowhere else. This time I knew it might be for longer.”
But even Anthony could not have envisaged Gatwick would become his home for the next three years.
“I spent the entire time moving from one place to another, grabbing a couple of hours sleep where I could,” he said.
“I didn't have a proper night's sleep for three years. I used to lie on the seats and throw a coat over me for a blanket. "
“But the more I got noticed, the harder it got. I ended up kipping in the disabled toilets and the showers. I'd watch the cleaners doing their rounds and spy on the security codes so I could let myself in. "
“Sometimes [armed police] caught me napping. I'd wake up late to find an officer stood over me or I'd just turn a corner at the wrong time.
“Was arrested 31 times – four of five times a day after I got the Asbo.
“But the more I got noticed, the harder it got. I ended up kipping in the disabled toilets and showers.
Terminal boredom: Delaney was forced to find shelter after losing his £80,000-a-year job
“I'd watch the cleaners doing their rounds and spy on the security codes so I could let myself in.”
Anthony, who comes from a wealthy Irish family and grew up in Maidenhead, Berkshire, would only leave Gatwick once a fortnight to make the 12-mile walk to collect his Jobseekers' Allowance.
“It was a really tough life. I was living off my giro which was just enough to buy prawn sandwiches and cups of tea and an occasional burger from McDonald's,” he said.
And he reveals how there are up to 30 other people living the same way after making Gatwick their home.
“There's a whole little community,” he said. “I know one guy who was there for eight years.
“There's another guy, Gary, who's in his 60s. He's very well dressed and looks very distinguished.
“In the summer there are about 30 of them.”
But the boredom and loneliness soon became too much for Anthony to bear.
“I didn't really have any friends. Occasionally I would talk to people, but then they'd get on a place and you never see them again,” he said.
“One day, I just couldn't do it any more. I'd had enough of the airport.
“I walked into WH Smith, picked up ten CDs and walked up to the police and said, 'I've stolen these, please arrest me'. "
“I got myself arrested to get help. "
“I don't want much – just a job, a roof over my head and enough money for a pack of fags. But I have a criminal record and I've lived at an airport for three years.
“I'm good at my job but what employer will take a chance on me?”
At Lewes Crown Court last week, Anthony was told he would be jailed if he went back to Gatwick. But the judge told him he faces a community sentence if he gets a job and stays out of trouble.
Source: Daily Mail UK, Mar. 7, 2008
'How I lived in Gatwick airport for three years' by former £80,000-a-year chef 
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