Gatwick drone investigation: Former suspects hit out at ‘disgusting’ accusation in tearful statement

Elaine Kirk and Paul Gait say they are receiving medical care after feeling ‘completely violated’

The couple who were arrested over the drone activity that prompted days of chaos at Gatwick Airport have hit out at the “disgusting” accusations they faced.

Around 1,000 flights affecting some 140,000 passengers were cancelled or diverted across three days after drones were spotted inside the perimeter of the UK’s second biggest airport on Wednesday.

Paul Gait, 47 and his wife Elaine Kirk, 54, were detained in connection with the drone activity and later released without charge.

In a tearful statement read out by Mr Gait the couple said they felt “completely violated” and were now receiving medical care after their traumatic ordeal.

“As I’m sure you can imagine we are feeling completely violated. Our home has been searched and our privacy and identity completely exposed,” Mr Gait said.

“Our names, photos and other personal information has been broadcast throughout the world.

“We are deeply distressed as are our family and friends and we are currently receiving medical care.

“The way we were initially perceived was disgusting although those who knew us did not doubt us for a second.

“We were both released without charge or further action. We are totally overwhelmed by the support we have received from people all over the world and we would like to thank everyone single one who has done that.

“We would ask the press to respect our privacy and leave us to try and get through Christmas the best we can.”

Mr Gait and Ms Kirk were detained by Sussex police at their home in the town of Crawley, West Sussex – just five miles from the runway – on Friday night.

Mr Gait, a father-of-two who works as a window fitter, was known by neighbours to be keen on flying model planes and helicopters.

But his boss had insisted he was working at the time the drones were spotted in Gatwick airspace.

The comments come as Sussex Police was forced to admit that “poor communications” had led a detective to apparently claim that the Gatwick drone may not have existed.

There had been more than 200 sightings since the first drone was spotted in the Gatwick area on Wednesday, with police taking 67 statements, including from police officers and airport staff. But the force was subjected to a barrage of ridicule and criticism after Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley admitted on Sunday it was “a possibility” there had never been a drone in the first place.

However, following an hour-long conference call chaired by transport secretary Chris Grayling a government source said police had accepted that the suggestion was down to “poor communications”.

A spokesperson for Sussex Police later said: “When you approach an investigation you cannot dismiss anything. We can unequivocally state that there have been numerous illegal drone sightings at the airport over three days from 19 to 21 December.

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The force is offering a £50,000 reward for information helping to "bring those responsible for the disruption to justice".

The conference call was joined by cabinet office minister David Lidington – Theresa May’s de facto deputy – home secretary Sajid Javid, security minister Ben Wallace and defence minister Stuart Andrew.

Mr Lidington was said to have pressed for the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to update their rapid deployment protocols for signing off requests for military assistance.

In a statement released later on Monday, Mr Wallace systems are now able to be deployed across the UK to combat the threat of drones..

While admitting there was no easy solution to tackling drone incursions, he warned those using them “recklessly” or illegally can expect severe punishments.

Mr Wallace added: “The huge proliferation of such devices, coupled with the challenges of deploying military counter measures into a civilian environment, means there are no easy solutions.

“However, I can say that we are able to now deploy detection systems throughout the UK to combat this threat.”