An Angus man who threatened to “wipe out” a Scottish airport in the wake of November’s Paris attacks after claiming he had just returned from fighting in Syria has been spared jail.
Jonathon Gourlay, originally from Canada but now of Kirriemuir, told terrified staff at Glasgow Airport he had spent two decades in the military and had just returned from the war-torn country.
But the 42-year-old is actually a master carpenter, has never been in the armed forces, and has only ever been to Syria on holiday.
Gourlay, who moved to the UK 15 years ago, could have been jailed for up to 12 months over the bizarre incident, but avoided prison after a sheriff was told he was still suffering from injuries sustained when he was violently attacked in his home.
Gourlay’s Syria rant took place at the airport at 8.45am on Monday November 16 60 hours after the Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead and a further 368 injured, had started.
And while Europe was still reeling from the atrocities which saw 89 people killed during the Eagles of Death Metal gig at the Bataclan theatre Gourlay went to Glasgow Airport to vent his frustrations.
Procurator depute fiscal Claire Nicholls said an easyJet employee was on duty at the time and spotted Gourlay.
The prosecutor explained: “She observed the accused Jonathon Gourlay wearing a flat cap and glasses, staggering around as if he was drunk and went over to assist him.
“He stated he wanted to purchase a ticket to Canada.
“The witness explained that easyJet did not fly to Canada and he asked for a ticket to Amsterdam.
“The witness explained he was too drunk to be sold a ticket and suggested he return once sober. He became agitated and aggressive and stated, ‘I’ve just pulled out of Syria’.
“She tried to reason with him but he stated, ‘I was in the military for 21 years and was messed up. You don’t understand I could wipe you out. I’m very high up in the military I could wipe you all out’.”
The police were contacted and they arrived to deal with the situation.
Nicholls added: “The accused began shouting, saying, ‘I’ve been a prisoner of war, I’ve been in Syria fighting and if I don’t get a flight I’m going to sort you all out’.”
Gourlay was arrested and held in police custody until the following morning, when he pleaded guilty to behaving in a way which would cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting and swearing at the airport, in breach of Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
Sentence was deferred for background reports and he returned to Paisley Sheriff Court this week to be sentenced.
Gourlay was given 12 months to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.