Drunken Manchester Airport 'terrorist' jailed
14.02.08
A drunken passenger who told Manchester Airport staff 'I'm a terrorist, come on, search me' has been jailed after failing to comply with the terms of an original non custodial sentence.
A court heard how Brett Roberts, 23, of Clifton Drive, Pudsey, was on his way to the Benidorm beer festival on November 14 2006 when he was spotted drinking by airline staff at 06:00. He said to one of them: 'Have I got time to get another pint?'
Around an hour later he was due to board the flight and when asked for his boarding pass he lifted his top and asked staff to search him. He said: 'I'm a terrorist, come on, search me.' The incident was reported to the captain who refused to let him on the plane and police were called.
After sobering up Mr. Roberts accepted his wrong-doing and was sentenced to 40 hours' unpaid work with £270 costs after admitting attempting to board an aircraft while drunk. But Leeds Crown Court heard how he then went on holiday to Tenerife for six months rather than completing his community service.
The court was also told how, at the time of the Manchester Airport incident, he should have instead been attending alcohol and substance abuse classes after he was convicted of drink driving for the third time. He was eventually arrested at Gatwick last month after warrants were put out for his arrest for breaching two court orders.
Jailing him for three months, judge Kerry McGill told Roberts that he thought his original punishment for the airport incident had been too lenient.
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