Former 'commando' jailed after drunken rampage at Belfast International Airport

James Burns (34), of Melrose Street in Belfast, told a staff member “F*** off or I will smack you in the face” before striking him on the arm.

He then tried to bite police officers at the airport before headbutting a civilian detention officer at a police station. He admitted disorderly behaviour, assault; assaulting police; and assaulting a Custody Detention Order on October 14 this year.

The case was mentioned at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday.

A prosecutor said the defendant was being drunk and abusive and behaving in a threatening manner and he assaulted a member of Swissport staff at the airport.

The defendant had sworn at the staff member telling him to "f**k off or I will smack you in the face" and had then "shoved" his arm.

The defendant was located by police in the terminal building. He smelt of alcohol and was slurring his words. He was escorted from the terminal and he was using "foul and abusive language throughout". He continued to issue threats to police, said the prosecutor, and at the exit door to the terminal the defendant continued to be abusive and was arrested. He was handcuffed and whilst waiting for a police cell van he threatened to headbutt a police officer and tried to bite an officer. He was put in the van and "tried to escape". He kneed and kicked an officer in the chest and face causing abrasions and bruising to his face and an arm injury. He tried to bite and headbutt another officer and left a "footprint" stamping-type bruise on an officer's thigh. When taken to a police station in Belfast the defendant headbutted a civilian detention officer. When interviewed the defendant said he had little memory and apologised. The defendant had 117 previous convictions. A defence barrister said the defendant had been a soldier and had served in Afghanistan. He said the defendant said he had been a "commando". The lawyer said the defendant had PTSD and "hears voices in his head" but is trying to "turn his life around" is now a qualified youth worker. District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had an "atrocious record". The judge said he was bound by legislation and the maximum sentence was six months but if he had been able to give a longer sentence he would have. The defendant was jailed for five months.