The victim told MyLondon that the incident left her ‘shaking and frightened’
A 52-year-old man has been fined after admitting stealing luggage from a mother while she breastfed her daughter at Gatwick airport. John Brooks, 52, of Brighton Road, Crawley, has pleaded guilty to stealing a suitcase and a child’s backpack from Gatwick Airport on October 30 2025.
He also admitted causing criminal damage worth £88.30 for breaking a security barrier with his head as he escaped with the luggage. On Tuesday, Brooks appeared at Crawley Magistrates Court wearing an orange coat under a black gilet and spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address. After entering his pleas he heard about the impact on his victim, before being fined £388.30 by the magistrates bench.
Brooks has 37 previous convictions for 72 offences, 42 of which relate to theft. He will pay £300 in compensation to the victim and £88.30 for the security barrier.
The mother-of-two went to the baby care room in the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport to breastfeed her younger daughter. “Due to the way the room is laid out she wasn’t able to bring her pram and luggage outside the room so left it just outside the door,” said Amy Fraser, prosecuting.
Brooks, who appeared drunk, then arrived and stood by her luggage trolley for a “short time” outside the toilets before taking it and moving off, the court heard.
Ms Fraser said: “He goes through the taxi area and then down to where the exit of the car park is… he ducks down to go under the barrier but it won’t move so he uses his head to move the barrier which then bends and breaks.” The prosecution called it an “opportunistic crime” and said the luggage was later recovered and returned.
In a victim impact statement, the mother said she now feels “insecure” in public, and that her older daughter, eight, has become fearful. “What happened has changed the way we feel in public spaces, the way we travel and the way my daughter sees the world around her,” she said.
The victim told MyLondon that the incident left her ‘shaking and frightened’ and ‘has not been able to sleep’ as a result. She added she will ‘speak to a therapist about it’.
A London Gatwick spokesperson said previously, when the office first arose: “We have specially equipped rooms for breastfeeding and baby changing located throughout the airport, including check-in areas, departure lounges, transfer areas and arrivals. The rooms are clearly signposted by a baby care symbol and are designed to meet the needs of all passengers, with enough space for those travelling with luggage trolleys.”
