Security breach man talks to BBC

The BBC car passed through a security checkpoint last month

A publican who unwittingly sparked another security breach at Norwich International Airport has come forward to talk to BBC News.

Pat Newman, a charity fundraiser from Norfolk, accidentally drove through an open perimeter gate, along an active taxiway and parked alongside a plane.

He told the BBC he was amazed to get through and concerned as he "could have been a terrorist".

The airport said it was happy with security, but declined further comment.

It is the second time in a month that security has been breached at the airport, which handles 750,000 passengers a year.

'Gate wide open'

Mr Newman had been visiting the airfield to deliver a cheque for the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity.

He told BBC Look East how he had driven in through the open gate after seeing the air ambulance parked next to a police helicopter.

"There was this gate was wide open so I thought the office must be somewhere near the helicopter. I just went straight through," he said.

He added: "It was so amazing to be able to do that and get on the airfield so easily... I could have been a terrorist."

As he parked beside a passenger plane, Mr Newman's Volvo was stopped by security, who took his name and registration number, before escorting him off the perimeter fence.

BBC reporter Maria Veronese got into secure areas at the airport

Last month, BBC reporters Maria Veronese and Julian Sturdy highlighted lax security by driving a car through the main security gate twice. They then walked around airside near planes for 45 minutes.

At the time the airport's managing director Richard Jenner said: "It is clear that you did identify a potential weakness in our security arrangements but we have now addressed this to ensure that they can't possibly happen again and we have reminded all staff of the need for vigilance.

"There is always a way in if somebody wants to do it, but I am confident the way you got in will never happen again."

The Department for Transport said: "This second incident is unacceptable and we have spoken to the airport management to establish how it happened.

"Robust action is being taken...which will involve increased inspection of the airport...to ensure that appropriate action has been and continues to be taken."