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| Con-man who faked pilot licence then fled justice is jailed | Con-man who faked pilot licence then fled justice is jailed |
| (4 months later) | |
| A con-man who was jailed in his absence for three years, for faking pilot's qualifications to get a job flying holidaymakers to the UK, was sentenced to a further month in prison on Tuesday for skipping bail and fleeing the country. | A con-man who was jailed in his absence for three years, for faking pilot's qualifications to get a job flying holidaymakers to the UK, was sentenced to a further month in prison on Tuesday for skipping bail and fleeing the country. |
| Michael Fay, 61, a US national, living in Alton, Hampshire, had pleaded guilty to fraudulently working as a commercial airline pilot, flying passengers into Gatwick airport with a Libyan airline without the proper licence and medical documentation on eight occasions. | Michael Fay, 61, a US national, living in Alton, Hampshire, had pleaded guilty to fraudulently working as a commercial airline pilot, flying passengers into Gatwick airport with a Libyan airline without the proper licence and medical documentation on eight occasions. |
| But before his sentencing at Winchester crown court on 3 May the former US air-force pilot fled, first to Qatar, then to Germany and finally to Ireland using another passport, before deciding to return and face justice. | But before his sentencing at Winchester crown court on 3 May the former US air-force pilot fled, first to Qatar, then to Germany and finally to Ireland using another passport, before deciding to return and face justice. |
| Fay handed himself in at Winchester police station on Monday night after a month on the run. He had contacted authorities to say he would talk to the police. | Fay handed himself in at Winchester police station on Monday night after a month on the run. He had contacted authorities to say he would talk to the police. |
| He appeared again at Winchester crown court, where the judge, Keith Cutler, said: "At last you are back to face the music." | He appeared again at Winchester crown court, where the judge, Keith Cutler, said: "At last you are back to face the music." |
| The judge heard that the sentencing judge, Frank Abbott, a recorder, had given Fay less credit for his guilty plea because he had fled on the day of sentencing. | The judge heard that the sentencing judge, Frank Abbott, a recorder, had given Fay less credit for his guilty plea because he had fled on the day of sentencing. |
| Cutler halved the sentence from two months to one month for breaching bail because, he said, there had already been "an element of punishment". | Cutler halved the sentence from two months to one month for breaching bail because, he said, there had already been "an element of punishment". |
| Police were alerted to Fay's scam when another pilot became suspicious while chatting to him on an internet forum. | Police were alerted to Fay's scam when another pilot became suspicious while chatting to him on an internet forum. |
| Fay had been operating Airbus A320 planes for eight months on behalf of the Libyan company Afriqiyah Airways at the time of his arrest on 3 February 2011. He had forged the required pilot's licence and medical certificates. | Fay had been operating Airbus A320 planes for eight months on behalf of the Libyan company Afriqiyah Airways at the time of his arrest on 3 February 2011. He had forged the required pilot's licence and medical certificates. |
| Police feared at the time he had fled the UK and that he could seek work as a pilot or flying instructor in another country. His details were broadcast across the world. | Police feared at the time he had fled the UK and that he could seek work as a pilot or flying instructor in another country. His details were broadcast across the world. |
| His defence barrister, Peter Binder, said his client had suffered from ill health and high blood pressure. | His defence barrister, Peter Binder, said his client had suffered from ill health and high blood pressure. |
| Binder said: "He accepts failing to attend. He had a conference with me on the 1 May – at that stage there was every indication he would attend for sentencing on the 3 May. | Binder said: "He accepts failing to attend. He had a conference with me on the 1 May – at that stage there was every indication he would attend for sentencing on the 3 May. |
| "But knowing he was going to prison, he had what is best described as a complete failure of nerve. He emailed me in the early hours of the 3 May saying he had left the jurisdiction, and I informed the court that day and he was sentenced in absentia. | "But knowing he was going to prison, he had what is best described as a complete failure of nerve. He emailed me in the early hours of the 3 May saying he had left the jurisdiction, and I informed the court that day and he was sentenced in absentia. |
| "He emailed me on the 11 May that he intended to return – he had 'done the wrong thing'. He was in a jurisdiction that needed an exit visa but in due course he was granted that exit permission and he returned a week ago and surrendered himself yesterday by appointment. He panicked and he ran away, but he has now returned." | "He emailed me on the 11 May that he intended to return – he had 'done the wrong thing'. He was in a jurisdiction that needed an exit visa but in due course he was granted that exit permission and he returned a week ago and surrendered himself yesterday by appointment. He panicked and he ran away, but he has now returned." |
| Chris Thorne, a detective constable with Hampshire police, said outside court: "It's good he has returned to face justice, he put people's safety in jeopardy. People in a plane to need to know that the guy at the front is qualified and in good health." | Chris Thorne, a detective constable with Hampshire police, said outside court: "It's good he has returned to face justice, he put people's safety in jeopardy. People in a plane to need to know that the guy at the front is qualified and in good health." |
| When Fay disappeared Thorne had said: "Michael Fay is a clever and resourceful man who clearly shows no concern for public safety if he's willing to work without the correct licences and medical certification. | When Fay disappeared Thorne had said: "Michael Fay is a clever and resourceful man who clearly shows no concern for public safety if he's willing to work without the correct licences and medical certification. |
| "He targeted Libyan aviation at a time when the country's political and economic standing was vulnerable and volatile. Had it not been for the quick thinking of a genuine pilot on the internet forum, Fay may have continued to put the public at risk in this manner unnoticed." | "He targeted Libyan aviation at a time when the country's political and economic standing was vulnerable and volatile. Had it not been for the quick thinking of a genuine pilot on the internet forum, Fay may have continued to put the public at risk in this manner unnoticed." |
| Fay worked for Afriqiyah Airways from 1 June 2010 to the day of his arrest on 3 February 2011. | Fay worked for Afriqiyah Airways from 1 June 2010 to the day of his arrest on 3 February 2011. |
| He will serve 18 months and two weeks of his sentence before he will be released. | He will serve 18 months and two weeks of his sentence before he will be released. |
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