An offshore worker who tried to take a metal cosh onboard a flight from Aberdeen has been fined.
Barratt Wilson was stopped by security at Aberdeen International Airport after an unusual object was spotted in his hand luggage.
Unable to decipher what the item was through their screening process, Wilson’s bag was searched and staff retrieved the offensive weapon.
And when it was produced in front of the 51-year-old he told the staff “oh I probably won’t get to take that through”.
Yesterday, Wilson appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted being in possession of the cosh on December 27 last year.
Fiscal depute Helen Johnston told the court security had spotted the “dense metal object” at around 10.20am.
When they asked to check his bag the found the illegal weapon.
Representing Wilson, solicitor Laura Gracie said her client had been in Aberdeen city centre four weeks before the offence and had his rucksack with him.
She said on this occasion he had been on The Green and had spotted the cosh lying on the ground so he picked it up and put it in his bag and took it home.
Ms Gracie said that Wilson, of Smithy Cottage, Corgarff, Strathdon, had completely forgotten about the item in his rucksack.
She said when he was packing his bag to go to the airport he just put everything else on top of it and did not realise he was still in possession of the club until he was stopped at security.
The court heard Wilson frequently travels abroad due to his job offshore and also has a partner who lives in Thailand.
Ms Gracie said that the offence was committed out of Wilson’s “sheer stupidity” and that he had absolutely no intention of taking it with him anywhere.
She said he was “thoroughly ashamed” of his actions which has now led to him having a criminal record. She added Wilson accepts that he should have checked his baggage before he took it with him.
Sheriff Marysia Lewis fined Wilson £500.