Drunk man wandered across runway

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A drunk man told an airport employee he was taking a short-cut after being spotted wandering across a runway, a court has heard.

Scott Morrison, 43, was seen on the runway of Inverness Airport shortly after 0600 BST on 25 May, prior to any flights starting.

At Inverness Sheriff Court, he admitted a breach of the peace.

Morrison was admonished after the sheriff heard he had already spent a month in custody after the incident.

Morrison, a father-of-four who lives in Brora, was deported from Australia to Scotland last year after serving time in prison for an attempted murder.

Morrison indicated that he was taking a short-cut from Ardersier to Inverness Karen StewartFiscal depute

In court, fiscal depute Karen Stewart said an airport employee saw Morrison walk from a grassy area on to the runway.

She said: "The member of staff walked towards him. He was concerned that he was on the runway and asked him what he was doing.

"Morrison indicated that he was taking a short-cut from Ardersier to Inverness. The witness noticed the accused was smelling strongly of drink."

The fiscal said the staff member gave Morrison a lift from the airfield to an access road outside the perimeter fence.

Became aggressive

However, two other airport employees spotted him on the road next to the airport on separate occasions and asked what he was doing.

Miss Stewart said Morrison became aggressive and swore at both workers.

The police were called and officers found him "clearly under the influence of alcohol".

Defence lawyer John McColl said his client was still drunk from the night before when he wandered onto the runway.

He added: "He had spent the night in Ardersier and decided to make his way home to Inverness cross-country."