A FORMER Buckinghamshire chef has been jailed for making Gatwick airport his home for three years.

Cheeky' Anthony Delaney ate, showered and slept at the busy airport, brushing off security staff who stopped him more then 30 times.

He told his lawyers he was happier staying there because he was clean, dry and warm'.

A court was told Delaney's problems started in 2004 when he lost his job in Buckinghamshire as a chef along with his accommodation.

He went to Sussex where he had previously lived to find work, but when he was unable to find a job he started using the airport as a place to stay.

He rarely left the busy south terminal, popping out only occasionally to collect his Jobseeker's Allowance, the court was told.

In scenes reminiscent of the Steven Spielberg movie The Terminal, Delaney passed his days watching holidaymakers and airline staff going about their business.

Judge Richard Hayward remanded him in custody for sentence believing his urge to return to Gatwick would be too strong should he be released.

He said: It is a bit cheeky to go straight back to Gatwick. There are other places you can have a shower. This is just going on and on. It is all very strange.' Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex was told that Delaney had repeatedly defied an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

Even when he was jailed for breaching his Asbo, he returned to the airport as soon as he was released.

Delaney yesterday admitted breaching his order for the third time.

The court heard Delaney was sentenced to 95 days in prison for the last breach when he appeared at the same court on January 10.

Because he had spent time behind bars on remand waiting for his court appearance, he was released immediately.

Delaney then made his way back to the airport where he was arrested in the south terminal later the same day.

Sarah Lindop, prosecuting, told the court the Asbo was imposed in 2006 and remains in force until 2011.

The order prohibits him from entering the airport or its railway station.

Peter Knight, defending, said Delaney has been staying at the airport because he wanted to stay clean, dry and warm.

He said Delaney was only looking for shelter and did not cause trouble. He said: "It is not a situation where he goes to the airport and causes a stink.

"He is not there to cause problems at all. He is just simply there and is asked to leave on numerous occasions.

The judge adjourned sentence for pre-sentence reports in order for the probation service to try to offer help. But he told Delaney he was not releasing him on bail.

He said: "If I give you bail you have nowhere to go and the temptation to end up back at Gatwick would be overwhelming."

Delaney was remanded in custody until March 10.

In the film The Terminal, Tom Hanks plays an Eastern European tourist who becomes a resident of New York airport when a war breaks out and erases his country from the map, voiding his passport.

Do you know Mr Delaney or where he worked in Buckinghamshire? Email bfpnews@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 01494 755082 or leave your comment below.