An oil worker who shocked guests by swinging from a hotel chandelier 60 feet above the ground has been told to go offshore to fund repairs to the £50,000 fitting.
Ross MacPhail told a court he had become “infamous” as a result of the dangerous prank during a festive stay at Sleeperz Hotel in Dundee.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told MacPhail has failed to pay for the damage to the elaborate chandelier due to ill-health stopping him from working.
But he told the court if he was allowed to go offshore for two shifts he would make enough money to pay the full cost of the repair work.
Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, persuaded the court to defer sentence until March to let him return to his well-paid oil industry job.
Sheriff Gregor Murray agreed to the deferral.
Two shifts will cover cost
Mr Laverty said: “Due to a number of factors – mainly ill-health – he has not been able to go offshore.
“His last attempt to go offshore was prevented by a bout of flu.
“In two or three days the opportunity will present itself for him to go offshore.
“Two periods of offshore work will result in all of the monies being payable to the court.
“He has been suffering from significant anxiety in relation to this case.
“The infamy of this matter being all over the newspapers has caused him considerable stress.”
MacPhail, 33, previously admitted badly damaging the £50,000 chandelier on January 3 by clambering over a balcony and swinging on it 60-feet above the hotel reception area.
He swung on the chandelier for several minutes and was still swinging on it four floors up when police arrived to talk him down.
He deliberately banged several of the glass pendants together to smash them and shards of glass fell into the public foyer.
Smashed pendants
The court was told the hotel initially estimated the chandelier was so badly damaged it would cost £50,000 to replace completely.
But fiscal depute Sarah High told the court the company had been able to repair the original chandelier for almost £8,000.
MacPhail, of Jarvis Place, Carnoustie, admitted wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging the property.
The Crown accepted his not guilty pleas to two further charges including striking an employee with falling broken glass and exposing staff and the public to the risk of injury.
He was also cleared of resisting, obstructing or hindering police by struggling with them.
Miss High told the court: “At 8.40 am the reception manager arrived for work.
“They had been made aware of a man who had been in the stairwell breaking the chandelier.
“They went to the fourth floor and observed the accused.
“He had scaled over the glass balustrade of the balcony and was sitting on it.
“He was swinging on the chandelier and banging the glass particles of the chandelier together.”
Police summoned
The concerned manager called police.
Miss High said: “Police attended at 8.50 am and engaged with the accused, who was still swinging on the chandelier and intentionally putting the glass pendants together, causing them to smash and fall to the floor.
“Eventually, the accused was taken back over the glass balustrade by the police.
“I believe it was a public area, approximately 60 feet above the ground.
“I believe the accused was under some sort of substance at the time.
“He was staying in the hotel and had obviously taken something.”
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