Bomb quip costs man job and fine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7000763.stm

Version 0 of 1.

An oil worker who told airport staff that he had an explosive device lost his job and has been fined £600.

Carlos Martins, 30, said he had a "small bomb" in his luggage as he was being checked in for a helicopter flight offshore from Aberdeen Airport.

Martins, from Portugal, was fined at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after he admitted a breach of the peace.

Martins had earlier lost his job at Noble Drilling after the incident in July, the court heard.

Martins was arrested when workers at an airport helicopter terminal called police.

His remark cost him his employment. It was an ill-conceived remark David SutherlandDefence solicitor

Fiscal depute Zoe McDonnell said: "The accused turned up at the desk to check in for his flight. He was asked the normal security questions and asked whether he had any sharp items in his bag.

"He replied: 'Just a small bomb'.

"The police were called in and he was searched. He told them he was only making a joke.

"The terminal was busy with a large number of passengers waiting for flights to various support vessels in the North Sea."

Alarm unintended

His solicitor, David Sutherland, said Martins had made the comment in jest and did not mean to cause alarm.

Mr Sutherland said: "The staff member had tried to humour him and told him that he should not be saying things like that.

"She then checked his details and his bag was searched. She told a colleague who then called police.

"On the back of this incident, he was dismissed by his employers. His remark cost him his employment. It was an ill-conceived remark."

Martins now lives with his parents in Portugal. His court case was dealt with in his absence because he could not afford to return to Scotland.

He was ordered to pay the £600 fine within four months.