A judge has strongly criticised Surrey Police for spending nearly £16,000 on a private jet to extradite a TikTok influencer wanted for dangerous driving, calling the move "not necessary or proportionate".
The Costly Flight from Spain
Harrison Sullivan, 24, known online as HSTikkyTokky, was eventually detained in Spain in August last year after avoiding police custody for almost 12 months. This followed a car crash in Virginia Water, Surrey, in March 2024. To bring him back to the UK from Málaga airport, Surrey police authorised a chartered flight costing £15,990.
At a hearing at Staines Magistrates' Court, the prosecution applied for £18,049 to be paid to the force to cover the flight and additional extradition expenses. However, District Judge Julie Cooper rejected the full amount, specifically taking issue with the use of a private aircraft.
Police Defence and Judicial Rebuke
In a statement, Surrey police defended the decision, stating it was based on a risk assessment from the National Crime Agency's extradition unit. They argued that all other options were considered and were not viable to "mitigate the perceived risks". The force emphasised that Sullivan's return was "imperative for the safety of Surrey’s roads", citing that he was driving at 70mph in a 40mph zone and had actively evaded police.
Judge Cooper, however, was not convinced. She stated: "In my view, it is not just or reasonable for him (Sullivan) to pay for a chartered flight when I have been given no satisfactory explanation for why that should be." The details of the risk assessment were not disclosed in court.
Sentencing and Reduced Costs
Last November, Sullivan was handed a one-year suspended custodial sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance. His other penalties include:
- A two-year driving disqualification.
- Wearing an electronic tag for three months.
- Completing 300 hours of unpaid work.
- Undertaking 30 days of rehabilitation.
The total costs to Surrey police and the Crown Prosecution Service to bring Sullivan back to the UK were £28,350.27. Judge Cooper reduced the final bill Sullivan must pay to £17,320.27, deducting £10,000 from the police costs because the private jet was not justified.
Sullivan's defence solicitor, Shalin Sood, told the court her client was "surprised by the private jet" and was compliant in custody. She argued that while extra costs were incurred, "a private jet did not have to be chartered", quipping that locating Sullivan wasn't difficult as "he livestreams every day".
The case has highlighted the significant public expense involved in the pursuit and extradition of a social media personality, raising questions about proportionality in police spending.
