Man stole bags from breastfeeding mother at Gatwick Airport before using head to break barrier

A man who admitted stealing a mother’s luggage while she was breastfeeding her daughter at Gatwick Airport has been fined.

John Brooks, 52, of Brighton Road, Crawley, pleaded guilty to taking a suitcase and a child’s backpack from the airport on October 30, 2025.

He also admitted causing criminal damage worth £88.30 by smashing a security barrier with his head as he made off with stolen items.

On Tuesday Brooks appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court wearing an orange jacket under a black vest and spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

After entering his plea he heard about the impact on his victim before the magistrates court fined him £388.30.

The mother-of-two went to the baby care room at Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal to breastfeed her little girl.

Amy Fraser, prosecuting, said: “Because of the layout of the room, she was unable to take her stroller and luggage out of the room so she left them just outside the door.”

The court heard Brooks, who appeared drunk, then arrived and stood next to the luggage trolley outside the toilet “briefly” before picking it up and driving off.

Ms Fraser said: “He goes through the taxi area and goes to where the car park exit is… he bends down to get under the barrier but it doesn’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 taken and returned.

In a victim impact statement, the mother said she now feels “unsafe” in public and her eight-year-old eldest daughter is frightened.

“What happened has changed the way we feel in public spaces, the way we travel, and the way we see the world around my daughter,” she said.

Brooks has 37 previous convictions for 72 offences, 42 of which were related to theft.

He will pay compensation of £300 to the victim and £88.30 for the safety barrier.