Brian Harkness, 42, was sprayed with PAVA and fined £200 after drinking vodka at 5am and attempting to board a Jet2 flight to Alicante to visit his dying grandmother in Benidorm. The incident occurred at Newcastle International Airport on May 15.
Incident at the airport
Police were initially called to Barr 11 in the airport after concerns that Harkness had stolen a bottle of vodka from Duty Free. The matter was resolved when he paid for the bottle in cash. At that time, officers warned him that he would not be allowed to fly as he was too drunk.
Despite the warning, Harkness went to Gate 17 when the Jet2 flight to Alicante began boarding. The gate had closed at 5.50am, but Harkness and another male attended and were informed they could not travel. Harkness refused to leave and became abusive.
PAVA spray and arrest
When police arrived, Harkness became more aggressive and threatening. Prosecutors said officers were forced to PAVA spray him in the face. During the arrest, an officer fell and cut his head on the corner of the gate door. Harkness resisted arrest, leading to the officer's injury.
Paul Doney, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said: "An officer sprays the defendant. The officer is holding him back when he falls over, hitting his head on the corner of the gate door. He suffered a cut to his head as a result of the defendant resisting arrest."
Court outcome
Harkness, of Gordon Road, Byker, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and resisting a police officer. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 compensation. The court heard he had a criminal record but did not intend to injure the officer.
Ben Hurst, defending, said: "There's a unique set of circumstances that brought Mr Harkness to the airport on that day. He was trying to board a flight to see his dying grandmother in Benidorm. She, unfortunately, passed away the next day. Had he been able to board that flight, he would have seen her. He accepts he was drunk and disorderly and that he should have just left when asked to leave."
District Judge Paul Currer told Harkness: "You were going to travel to Alicante from Newcastle Airport in the early hours of the morning. For some reason, you thought it would be a good idea to drink vodka at that time in the morning. That was an exceptionally unwise course of action, particularly as you were boarding a flight. Your behaviour caused disruption in the airport."
