A MAN missed his holiday after falsely claiming he had a flick-knife in his baggage.

Denis Lawrence Crossen was preparing to check-in at Teesside International Airport for a flight to Rhodes, Greece, in June this year when he committed the offence.

The 56-year-old, from Oxbridge Lane, Stockton, appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday and denied the offence.

Giving evidence, Joanna Moses said she ran through a series of standard security questions on the check-in desk with two men, one of whom was Crossen.

When she asked Crossen if had any sharp items in his hand luggage, she said his reply was: "I've got a flick-knife in here."

Crossen and his travelling partner, who had made a joking reference to bombs and guns, were subsequently arrested. A search of Crossen's luggage found no knife.

Miss Moses said she thought the men were probably joking, but added: "It's an offence to say that when questioned and at the end of the day I could never live with myself if he went on board and something happened."

Crossen claimed his remark had been misheard, adding: "I thought for a minute and said 'I'm not sure but I might have a pen-knife in my bag'."

He said he often carried a pen-knife in his toilet bag for peeling and cutting fruit, but had forgotten to pack it this time.

Finding Crossen guilty, chairman of the bench Nigel Scott said: "We prefer the view of Miss Moses because she is a credible witness, experienced in making those inquiries and couldn't be swayed under cross-examination."

Crossen was fined £100 and ordered to pay £150 costs. His travelling companion admitted a similar offence at an earlier hearing where he was fined £200 with £55 costs.