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Airline boss appears in court

A BUSINESSMAN who said he was setting up an airline to operate flights between London and Durham Tees Valley Airport has appeared in court on fraud charges.

Victor Bassey, 49, from Middlesbrough, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court charged with seven offences relating to fraud and fraudulent trading yesterday.

He owned Excelsis Airways, which promised luxury flights to London which were never launched.

Mr Bassey, who has yet to enter a plea, will appear at crown court in July.

The Nigerian national, who has the right to permanent residence in the UK, was granted bail on condition he surrender his passport.

Last October the entire management team of the airline which claimed it would relaunch commercial flights between Durham Tees Valley Airport and London resigned.

In a statement, the 12 staff alleged that owner Victor Bassey had never paid them, and had failed to provide capital funding for the company or its creditors.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .