Man admits carrying gun at airport

David Burrows arrives at court in Harlow

An estate agent from Norfolk has admitted carrying a gun in his hand luggage as he was about to board a plane at Stansted Airport.

But a solicitor defending David John Burrows at Harlow Magistrates Court on Thursday said his client had forgotten he had stowed the handgun there to keep it safely away from his young daughter.

Burrows, 44, of Bridge Farm, North Walsham, was found to be carrying the gun which fired ball-bearings in his carry-on baggage on 16 January.

He was remanded on unconditional bail to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on 19 February for sentencing.

Gun 'forgotten'

Ian Fisher, defending, told the court that Burrows had "forgotten" he had placed the handgun in a zipped-up compartment of his holdall a couple of weeks earlier.

He said Burrows had packed his bag at the last minute before leaving for the airport where he was due to catch a flight to Spain for a weekend trip.

It was only when his luggage went through the x-ray and extra security staff were called that Burrows realised he had left the gun in the bag.

In police interviews, Burrows said he had placed the ball-bearing gun in the bag because he was concerned his six-year-old daughter would find it in his bedroom.

Burrows pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a ball bearing-firing handgun having the appearance of a firearm, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, in contravention of the Aviation Security Act 1982.