Men accused over spray incident at major UK airport deny 'gang-related robbery'

Tyrone Richards, 31, Anton Clarke-Butcher, 24, and Omoneke Whyte, 30, have denied targeting women with CS spray in an alleged robbery at Heathrow Airport

Three men have denied targeting women with CS spray in a “gang-related” robbery at Heathrow Airport that left more than 20 people needing medical treatment.

Tyrone Richards, 31, Anton Clarke-Butcher, 24, and Omoneke Whyte, 30, allegedly stole two suitcases from two separate women using the noxious spray on both. They are each charged with two counts of robbery, two of administering a noxious substance and one of affray after the incident on December 7 last year.

Following the attack, the Metropolitan Police said “a number of people were affected by the substance” including five who were taken to hospital before later being discharged.

Ambulance crews treated 21 people, including a three-year-old child, who had been hit with the noxious spray in a multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 of the airport.

CS spray is a man-made chemical that UK police forces use to temporarily incapacitate people in a similar manner to pepper spray. The trio will appear for trial at Isleworth Crown Court on June 29.

Richards and Clarke-Butcher previously appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court last month only to confirm their names, addresses and date of births.

At that hearing, prosecutor Rene De Silva read out the same facts for each defendant, telling the court they were arrested after a robbery, which they were suspected of playing a “key role” in the incident at Heathrow Airport on December 7.

Mr De Silva said the defendants, along with others, used CS spray to commit the robbery of a suitcase. He told magistrates that the incident was believed to be “gang-related”.