Drunk doctor convicted after airport altercation
AMIDLAND doctor could not stand up in the body scanner at Birmingham Airport because he was so drunk, a court heard.
Vijaykrishna Maddikera smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet, Birmingham Magistrates heard.
Maddikera was set to travel to India to visit his ill father on December 29 but had ‘one too many’ drinks because he was a ‘nervous flier’.
Staff considered arranging him a later flight to give him time to sober up but he became abusive towards them and was subsequently arrested.
Maddikera, 52, of Erlington Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk in a restricted area at an airport. He was handed a conditional discharge for 12 months. Maddikera was also told to pay a £21 victim surcharge and £135 court costs.
Preena Mistry, prosecuting, said: “Guards were on patrol and were directed to attend the central security area. They were informed a male had been refused entry due to being unable to stand up in the body scanner. Staff suspected he was drunk and when they spoke to him he smelled strongly of alcohol.
“He was struggling to speak and his speech was slurred, he was struggling to maintain eye contact. Outside of the security area he was struggling whilst walking through the airport. He was unsteady on his feet.
“Staff tried to help him sort another flight to allow him time to sober up but the defendant was abusive to staff and was subsequently arrested.”
Maddikera was initially set to be handed a caution from police but because it would not have shown up on airport records he was formally charged, the court heard.
His defending solicitor Mr Saeed said: “The defendant went to the airport to visit his father who is seriously ill. He has a broken back and is bedbound.
“He’s a nervous flier, he was on his own, his father was very seriously ill, he had a few drinks. He didn’t know he had one too many unfortunately. He didn’t end up going to India. He went back home and learned a lesson from it. He has stopped drinking and is now teetotal.
“He’s a medical practitioner and a man of good character prior to this.”