Ex-soldier thrown off flight after assaulting his own daughter

Sheriff slams man for lashing out while on board plane

A former soldier assaulted his own daughter and kicked a cop on the head because he was removed from a plane at Glasgow Airport.

Leonard Dixon, 43, “lost the plot” when he and his family were ejected from a easyJet flight to Amsterdam on January 12 because of his drunken and abusive behaviour.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Dixon, who suffers from PTSD after serving in Kosovo with the army, had been with his partner and teenage daughter, and was about to board the plane when he began shouting and swearing in the departure lounge.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Mark Nicol said the pilot told cabin crew not to let Dixon and his family board because of his aggressive behaviour.

However, Dixon got on board and all hell broke loose when cops were called to remove him from the flight.

The prosecutor said: “A verbal altercation took place on board the plane when it was attempted to remove him from the plane.

“He turned on his own family members.

“He was shouting, ‘Let me speak to the f****** pilot c***,’ and ‘Get me the f****** pilot c***.’

“His daughter attempted to calm her father down.

“He raised his right hand and struck her in the chest area causing her to stumble backwards.”

The court heard Dixon was arrested off the plane but he assaulted a constable by kicking him in the chest and head.

The fiscal added: “He made several attempts to kick the police officer.

“He repeatedly tried kicking him on the head and body.

“Officers applied fast straps to his legs.”

Dixon, of Muir Crescent, Balloch, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at Glasgow Airport where he repeatedly shouted, swore and acted aggressively.

He also admitted assaulting his daughter by striking her on the body and assaulting a police officer by kicking him on the head and body.

Defence agent Tony Callahan told the court how Dixon’s flight had been delayed for six hours on the day in question and he simply “lost the plot” when he was ejected from the plane.

He said: “He shows a high level of regret, shame and remorse for his conduct that day.

“He was going on holiday and was hit with a six-hour delay.

“He had consumed a small amount of alcohol, but accepts that reacted with medication he is prescribed, and this exacerbated his psychological difficulties.”

He added tours in Kosovo had left his client affected by PTSD.

Sheriff HughMcG in ty hammered Dixon, who lives on his army pension, with a £1,250 fine and placed him on an electronic tag for six months requiring him to remain indoors between 7pm and 7am each day.

Sheriff Hugh McGinty told Dixon: “Your behaviour was appalling and disgusting.”

Your behaviour was appalling and disgusting

Sheriff McGinty