There is some debate as to whether the tales of jet-setting con man Frank Abignale, Jr. ever actually happened. In case you were looking for a similarly-styled international man of mystery to follow, look no further than unemployed Englishman Craig Sturt. In just one month’s time, he’s been playing the international crime weirdo game on hard mode; sneaking aboard a British Airways flight from London to New York, then escaping from jail while awaiting sentencing for the initial crime. He’s even used a few of Abignale’s signature moves, which might have been convincing in the 1960s, but seem near impossible to get away with today.
On Christmas Eve of 2023, Mr. Sturt managed to “tailgate” a passenger onboard a flight from Heathrow to JFK, skipping passport and ticket checks by hugging closely to the person in front of him. The flight was fully booked, but Sturt managed to find his way to a seat that had been left unoccupied by a traveler who didn’t make their connection. There’s no mention of how Sturt managed to get through Heathrow’s security checks without presenting any documents, but that alone is no mean feat.
“We continue to work with all our partners to review and enhance the already robust security measures in place which are kept under constant review by the wider security partnership,” said a Heathrow spokesperson.
Once in New York it seems Sturt couldn’t find a way to slip through customs and border protection, so he exited the airport a different way. According to reports from the scene, he was was forcibly apprehended by American police walking down a runway at JFK. A charter flight was organized to return Sturt to the U.K. to attest to his international criminal activity. The 46-year-old admitted his offences at Uxbridge Magistrates’ court, and handed over to serve time until sentencing could be organized.
Thames Valley Police issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Sturt on January 25 after it was discovered that he’d been misplaced like a set of car keys. According to reports from those familiar with the situation, Metro Police took Sturt for treatment at a hospital in Reading. The details of his escape from the hospital aren’t immediately evident.
Until Monday morning, Sturt had been on the lam for 19 days. Details are still coming in today, but it appears he was re-apprehended in Richmond, south-west of London, at around 8 a.m. He was about 52 miles away from the hospital from which he’d escaped, or around 90 minutes by train.
The Sun reached out to Craig’s older brother, Lee Smith, for comment:
“It’s ridiculous this could happen. If Craig, with a troubled past, could dodge security then presumably anyone else with sinister motives could do the same. Heads should roll. How has this been allowed to happen?”
Given Sturt’s ability to slip through Heathrow undetected, it’s a wonder that authorities were ever able to find him again.