Two self-confessed “idiots” who broke into Dundee Airport while drunk have been ordered to pay back less than half the cost of the damage they caused.
Patrick Grigor (25) and David Sneath (26), had previously admitted that on May 20, 2009, they entered a restricted area of Dundee Airport, maliciously discharged a fire extinguisher over five aircraft, entered two of the planes without authority and interfered with their controls.
At that time the court heard one of the men, whose addresses were both given as Daniel Place, Dundee, had been found straddling an aircraft, wearing a pink cowboy hat and dark glasses while covered head to toe in white foam.
Their drunken adventure had cost around £8400 including the cost of cleaning and checking the planes and the loss of revenue from cancelled hires.
At Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Sheriff George Way heard the pair had paid back £1650, but their personal prospects had been damaged by the crime.
An agent for Grigor told the court that he had hoped he would have been able to pay back more.
“During the course of the last 13 months there have been periods of unemployment because of these proceedings becoming known,” she said.
The agent said Grigor did not claim benefits while out of work.
“Therefore anything that was saved was then reduced until the next job came along,” she added. “But he is now in more secure employment.”
John Boyle, solicitor for Sneath, said his client had been in a similar position but was now working full-time as an HGV driver.
He added that Sneath had a partner to support and a child on the way.
Sheriff George Way said he was sure that every time the men had to put money away to pay back they were deterred from committing any other crime.
He added, “You were only lucky that there wasn’t an accident of some kind.
“Clambering on these machines that you don’t understand could have been pretty dangerous for you.
“In other countries you could have found that the security guards were armed.”
He said he would not burden the court system by asking Grigor and Sneath to make regular appearances but would order them to pay an additional £1000 in compensation each, leaving Tayside Aviation able to raise a civil action for the remainder if they chose.
Leaving the court, Grigor and Sneath said they remained embarrassed by the incident.
“I just want to draw a line under it,” said Sneath.
“It was embarrassing, especially for our families as well.
“We hope that there will be no further problems.”