Passengers bound for Glasgow complained

Thirty seven-year-old Boyle, from Renfrew, had been blowing up crisp bags and then bursting them like balloons - much to the annoyance and fright of the other passengers on board the British Midland flight.

The court heard that Boyle began to act in a stupid fashion after the plane experienced some turbulence on its approach to Glasgow.

Depute Fiscal Pauline Thornton told the court: "The accused and a companion were blowing up crisp bags and banging them like balloons.

"They were shouting and swearing and passengers asked them to behave and stop using foul language."

Boyle ignored these objections and continued to use foul language, she added.

'Nervous energy'

Mrs Thornton said that as other passengers complained they were subjected to further abuse and swearing.

Defending Boyle, Paul Coyle, said the first offender, worked in the south of England and flew home on a fortnightly basis with the same airline.

Boyle, the court heard, had consumed alcohol on the day due to delays at Heathrow Airport, but did not feel he had been drinking excessively.

He had consumed two pints in an airport bar and a further two drinks during the flight.

Mr Coyle said: "He explains that his remark about 'being feart' came about as a result of the plane bouncing from side to side.

"It was nervous energy that made him react in this way and his conduct amounted to an unfortunate one-off incident."

He said his client accepted that his language was likely to have caused offence.

Sheriff Kavanagh ordered Boyle to return on 30 November for sentencing.