A music teacher who tried to board a plane to Egypt with a fake Covid-19 test certificate has been told he could face jail in one of the first cases of its kind.
Philip Cunningham was caught out at Heathrow airport when it was spotted by EgyptAir check-in staff that his Covid test number was lacking a digit.
Ealing Magistates’ Court heard that the 33-year-old insisted that he had taken the Covid-19 test the day before and was negative.
But when police contacted the testing company they were told there was no record of him taking a coronavirus test, the court heard.
Cunningham was then arrested and taken in for questioning where he accepted causing a “wild goose chase” for the authorities.
Cunningham, from Birmingham, has now admitted fraud by false representation and awaits sentencing.
Prosecutor Izola Gribbin said to the court: “He told police officers: ‘Yes I did it, I sent them on a wild goose chase. I’m a music teacher, this could ruin my life’.”
The judge warned Cunningham he could still be committed to the crown court for sentence if magistrates decide their powers are too limited.
