Roger Sofarover,
Totally in agreement with your summary.
The Govt (via Transec) publishes a list of "disqualifying offences" which prohibit the issue of an airside pass, it is truly an eye opener, and indeed 50% or more of the offences listed could not by any stretch of the imagination, be linked to an increased "security risk".
There is an appeals procedure,however, given the general "jobsworth" mentality of the UK ,I wouldn't like to surmise what percentage of appeals are sucessful, I suspect fairly low.
Indeed, very callous to gloat on this poor guys circumstances, "Glass Houses" comes to mind.
When you look at some of the scumbags walking free from court every day this seems more than a little OTT, and how exactly is the poor guy supposed to be "rehabilitated" ( one of the oft stated aims of a custodial sentence ) when the denial of an airside pass is going to cost him his livelihood and profession for a very long time.
He has my very best wishes, those who wish to rejoice should truly hang their heads in shame.