Airport weapons charge 'an embarrassing mistake'
A former Formula 1 racing driver arrested when he tried to take a knife stuffed into his sock onto a transatlantic flight today said the incident was an ‘‘embarrassing mistake’’.
Ian Ashley, 54, of Farndon, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, said he slipped a small pocket knife into his sock because he realised it would be confiscated if found.
His action sparked an alert as he and his wife, Jane, were about to board the flight to Seattle from Terminal 4 at London’s Heathrow Airport yesterday.
Security staff also discovered a screwdriver and a small pair of pliers in his briefcase.
Mr Ashley said: ‘‘I had completely forgotten about the tools in my briefcase. They are just in there all the time.
‘‘What I did with the knife - it is just a small pocket knife - was slip it into my sock. I know that was stupid and the whole thing has just been an embarrassing mistake.’’
Mr and Mrs Ashley had been flying out to north America to visit a recently widowed aunt.
Mr Ashley added: ‘‘I feel so stupid about the whole episode and now my wife and I are trying to catch another flight out.’’
Scotland Yard said Mr Ashley had been charged with carrying offensive weapons into Heathrow Airport.
Mr Ashley, a racing driver instructor, was charged yesterday under the Aviation and Security Act.
He was about to board a flight to Seattle from Heathrow’s terminal four when he is alleged to have been carrying a three-inch lock knife, a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. He was bailed to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on February 1.
Mr Ashley raced in five Grand Prix during the 1970s and has since raced GT cars and is a racing driving instructor.
He has been learning to fly recently.
