Passenger who suffered 'mini breakdown' must pay £800 for damage at Stansted Airport's passport control
A DRUNKEN passenger from Cumbria who caused £1,200 damage to security doors at Stansted Airport was today (Monday) let off by a court without a penalty.
Chelmsford magistrates heard that Martin Marine, 46, of Skelwith Bridge, was nervous about being stopped at passport control and forced his way through electronic security doors into a restricted area. He had landed at night on October 4 and barged through the doors in the wrong direction.
Prosecutor Simon Bravery said Marine was intoxicated when he forced his way through at 1.40am, causing £1,200 damage.
He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and to a second offence of contravening a bylaw by gaining access to a "critical restricted area" and causing disruption to airport security.
Magistrates ordered him to pay £800 compensation towards the repair to Stansted owner Manchester Airports Group, but did not impose any penalty for the offences.
Marine, who represented himself in court, said that he had little recollection of what happened.
He told magistrates: "I was quite intoxicated. I was confused and nervous and a bit apprehensive about having to go through passport control on the way back into the UK."
He had been stopped at passport control before and had a previous conviction which his partner was not aware of. He also had been diagnosed with bi-polar.
"I believe I was having a mini-breakdown. I had a couple of drinks on the flight to calm me down into Stansted. I didn't intend what happened and I am very remorseful," he told the court.
