Four Jailed for Heathrow Tear Gas Suitcase Theft Plot
A group of men received prison sentences for their involvement in an incident that caused significant disruption at Heathrow Airport.
Four men have been jailed for their roles in a plot to steal passengers' suitcases at Heathrow Airport, an incident that involved the use of tear gas and caused hours of disruption.
Tyrone Richards, 31, Anton Clarke-Butcher, 25, Omoneke Whyte, 31, and Denzel Eduardo, 29, all pleaded guilty to affray. They were sentenced today at Isleworth Crown Court.
Judge Kwame Inyundo described the violence as "serious and sustained," stating that individuals were targeted as a group. The incident occurred on December 7, when three of the defendants, wearing face coverings and dark clothing, sprayed a substance believed to be CS gas into a lift at an airport car park. The lift contained two women who had arrived on a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, along with two men who had met them.
While the evidence was unclear on who deployed the gas, each defendant admitted their involvement in the joint enterprise. The group prevented others from entering the lift, causing distress to innocent parties. The gas was released as the lift reached the ground floor, affecting people in a nearby Caffe Nero. One Caffe Nero worker reported coughing, vomiting blood, and feeling unwell shortly after the incident.
The two women who had arrived from Johannesburg then proceeded to an airport taxi forecourt. The defendants followed them, threatened violence, and took their suitcases, which have not been recovered. CS gas was sprayed directly into the face of one of the women, causing her to cough and choke.
The incident led to the lockdown of Terminal 3, causing significant disruption to passengers, including delays to shuttle buses and trains. CCTV footage of the event was presented in court, though partially obscured by a Christmas tree.
A customer service agent described the situation as "terrifying," experiencing dizziness and observing a woman in a wheelchair struggling to breathe. Another passenger traveling with a 14-month-old son expressed fear for her child's safety.
Richards was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Whyte and Eduardo each received 23-month sentences, and Clarke-Butcher was sentenced to 21 months.