US airline pilot caught with stun gun at Edinburgh Airport

An American hose aviator has admitted carrying a precocious voltage stun weapon successful his luggage astatine Edinburgh Airport.

Ryan Cecil, 56, was recovered carrying the limb successful his carry-on luggage arsenic helium attempted to committee a formation helium was piloting to New York successful January.

Cecil, a skipper with United Airlines, initially claimed it was a torch, but aboriginal admitted it was a stun instrumentality which is ineligible successful astir US states.

He claimed helium had accidentally carried it with him, and was ordered to wage a good of £8,500 arsenic an alternate to a situation sentence.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the aviator had flown from Newark Airport successful the US 2 days antecedently and was flying backmost location erstwhile helium was stopped astatine astir 07:30 connected 20 January.

Prosecutor Matthew Miller said a information serviceman discovered the stun weapon hidden wrong a brace of gloves but Cecil had taken clasp of the limb and claimed it was conscionable a torch.

Police were called aft it was identified arsenic a stun gun.

Cecil was taken to Livingston constabulary presumption wherever helium told officers: "I americium successful usurpation but it was accidental."

The aviator was held successful custody for 2 nights earlier being released connected bail.

Cecil returned to tribunal connected Tuesday wherever helium pleaded blameworthy to possessing a prohibited limb that was designed oregon adapted to discharge a noxious liquid, state oregon electricity.

Lawyer Mathew Nicholson, defending, told the court: "He was wholly unaware it was successful his bag. That container went done information checks and went undetected and helium spent 2 nights successful Edinburgh earlier readying connected flying back.

"He afloat accepts this was gross carelessness by him and the point successful question is not a regulated point successful the United States."

Mr Nicholson said Cecil has been arsenic a commercialized aviator for 23 years and had an exemplary record. He had antecedently served successful the equipped forces, reaching the fertile of lieutenant colonel.

The tribunal heard Cecil was "deeply embarrassed and ashamed" astatine appearing successful tribunal but his employers were keen to support him on.

Sheriff Charles Walls said: "This is simply a precise superior offence and ignorance of the laws of Scotland oregon successful immoderate state is not an excuse.

"However, I judge what has been said connected your behalf and I judge you person been of erstwhile bully quality with nary erstwhile convictions and portion I tin enforce a custodial condemnation I don't suggest to bash that today."