A North Sea fisherman narrowly avoided jail after he abused staff and threatened police at Aberdeen International Airport.
Anatoliy Chitrenko, from Lithuania, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday where he pled guilty to four charges.
The 50-year old admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner to staff and police, walking into a restricted area, refusing to put out his cigarette in a no-smoking zone and being intoxicated.
Fiscal depute Karen Down, prosecuting, told the court Chitrenko – whose address was given as the Harvest Caroline ship, Shore Street, Fraserburgh – had travelled from Lithuania to Aberdeen, via Copenhagen on Friday.
After his flight landed, he went to go for a cigarette but walked through an alarmed fire exit to a restricted walkway area, the court heard.
Airport staff approached Chitrenko and told him he was not allowed to be there and asked him to put out his cigarette, Ms Down said.
She said staff could smell alcohol on his breath and noticed he was slurring his words.
A UK Border Patrol Officer then escorted Chitrenko to the baggage area, where staff checked his luggage.
It was at this point, according to Ms Down, that he became abusive and threatened airport staff, who subsequently notified the police.
When police arrived, they detained Chitrenko in a holding cell where he started kicking at the cell door and threatening the officers.
He was later taken to Kittybrewster Police Station and charged.
Shane Campbell, defending, claimed Chitrenko had been drinking heavily while he was delayed in Copenhagen.
Mr Campbell added that his client had a wife and child to support back home in Lithuania.
Sheriff Annella Cowan told Chitrenko she had “seriously considered” imposing a custodial sentence but had decided against it in light of his family and job.
Sheriff Cowan imposed a fine of £1,400 but admonished him on the charge of being under the influence, adding that he “was not the first person who has been intoxicated at Aberdeen airport”.