A Rangers fan from St Andrews was left reeling in a Livingston jail cell when he should have been on a flight to Seville for the Europa League final.
David Melville, 58, was set to board his flight to the Spanish city to watch Rangers play Eintracht Frankfurt in the showpiece final.
But as he approached the departure gate at Edinburgh Airport, he was apprehended by police, after an outstanding warrant from two years ago was flagged to officials.
Instead of jetting off to the Andalusian capital, he was conveyed to Livingston police station, where he spent the night.
Still in custody, he was brought to Dundee on Thursday, where a sympathetic sheriff fined him – but deducted the cost of his flight and accommodation for Seville.
Sympathetic sheriff
Melville, of Strathkinness, by St Andrews, was visited by police in October 2020 after they received a “tip-off” he owned an air rifle without the correct documentation.
He allowed the gun to be seized and understood that would be the end of the matter.
He moved house from where the weapon was taken and claims he never received papers regarding further court appearances, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
The self-employed landscape gardener pled guilty to the 2020 charge in front of Sheriff Lindsay Foulis, who reduced his fine by £250 to account for the “punishment” of missing the final in Seville.
The return flight to Seville cost £150, with his accommodation setting him back a further £100.
Sheriff Foulis said: “I would have given you a £500 fine, reduced from £700 for your plea.
“But I am going to take the cost of the flight and accommodation off, so you will be fined £250, in recognition of how long it has taken this matter to carry out.”
‘Disbelief’ over arrest
Defence solicitor David Sinclair said his client had been left in “disbelief”.
He said: “It was a .22 air rifle he used for target practice with his children in the back garden 20 years ago.
“He did not know (when the police visited in 2020) the legislation had changed.
“He was booked to take a flight to Seville on Wednesday, to watch a game involving a team from the West Coast of Scotland.
“He instead spent the night in Livingston police station.
“I spoke to him at around 8.15pm on Wednesday night.
“The disbelief in how this has all come about is apparent.
“Police had his phone number and email address.
“Had officers been able to pick up the phone the complaint would have been served.
“This is a sorry tale.”
Handed over rifle
Depute fiscal Sarah High told the court: “On October 30 2020 undisclosed information was received the accused was an owner of an air rifle and had no licence.
“At around 10am on the same date, the attending officer asked the accused if he owned the air rifle.
“He said he did but had not used it for a number of years.
“It was unloaded, locked away in a garden shed.
“The accused confirmed he did not have a licence.
“He provided officers with the rifle. There was no ammunition.
“The accused said he could not remember the last time it had been used.”
100,000 fans
Melville would have been one of an estimated 100,000 Rangers fans who travelled to Seville for the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Glasgow team lost the tie on penalties, after drawing 1-1 over 120 minutes.
